More policing for Bracknell

6.37.08pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 26th Apr 2005

Under the Lib Dems, Bracknell stands to gain up to 50 police and community support officers

Lib Dems have unveiled plans that could lead to an additional 50 police and community support officers in the Bracknell Constituency over the next 5 years. The additional police officers would be part of 10,000 new police officers nationwide funded by scrapping Labour's flawed ID card scheme. Lib Dems have also promised to invest in new technology for the police such as voice recognition technology to reduce paperwork and time spent in the police station.

Lee Glendon, Parliamentary Candidate welcomed the news:

"Our residents' surveys show that there is an overwhelming public desire for more visible policing to deter crime and reduce the fear of crime - we are tackling this problem by increasing police resources and using technology to allow more time out on the street."

Back in February, Lee Glendon met with local police to understand their priorities for the area and views on how to tackle crime. They identified 3 key priorities over the next 12 months:

1) To develop neighbourhood policing in Bracknell.

2) To get crime down.

3) To change perceptions so that people felt that Bracknell was safer.

The discussion covered a number of additional points:

1) Acceptable Behaviour Contracts were seen as more effective than Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) as increasingly ASBOs were being perceived as a source of "street cred." by young people.

2) The "Three Strikes & You're Out" rule means that for example someone with a drug fuelled burglary habit may not get treatment due to limited resources unless they admit to multiple crimes in which case they would not get a "second chance".

3) The level of paperwork required on the police has increased substantially due to new regulations around surveillance, stop and search and more information required for the courts.

4) Domestic violence is included within violent crime figures and it is important to recognise that increased reporting of domestic violence should be encouraged.

5) Thames Valley Police still suffer from losing experienced officers to the Metropolitan Police as officers can earn an additional £7,000 per annum.