"THE role of Police and Crime Commissioner is about new ideas, fresh thinking and bringing the public's view to make policing in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent more visible, responsive and accountable to local people.
It's about freeing police officers from burdensome bureaucracy to do what they were trained for.
In these difficult times it's about achieving more policing with fewer resources so that crime keeps falling.
Is that really possible? Yes, it is! With so many different organisations involved in community safety, supporting victims and playing a part in the wider criminal justice system, my recent work in building successful coalitions across sensitive public services could be crucial to developing a joined up and effective system which makes Staffordshire even safer.
My priorities include:
- An ambitious technology programme to reduce the burden of process and form filling, releasing 3,000 more policing hours to the front line every week and a five-point plan to increase police visibility to the public;
- Move some resources from detecting crime to a focus on preventing it from happening;
- Treat victims of crime as individuals not just a crime number with more incidents receiving a police visit and development of a web-based Case Tracker to provide victims with 'real time' updates;
- Tougher policing of prolific offenders if they can't or won't reform;
- Dealing with irresponsible licensees, anti-social drinking and anti social behaviour via tough 'lead agency accountability' to see the job through;
- Fast and transparent justice with greater use of restorative measures that account for a victim's views and wishes;
- A new young Police Cadets Service for Staffordshire to encourage good citizenship, improve links between police and young people and paid for by big business through a Corporate Social Responsibility Fund;
- A modern twist to the village/community bobby - 200 Community Special Constables recruited to police only the communities where they live."
