Free Police in Norfolk from Government Bureaucracy say Lib Dems

6.43.28pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 7th Sep 2008

PLANS to free local police forces from the grip of central government bureaucracy and targets have been welcomed by Liberal Democrats in Broadland.

The proposals have been launched by Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Chris Huhne and will be debated at the party's conference in Bournemouth in September.

April Pond, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Broadland, said that police officers would be freed to spend more time policing communities rather than chasing government targets.

"The police have to be allowed the time to police our local communities," said April Pond. "That is not possible with constant interference and targets from Whitehall which do little to catch criminals and deter crime. Norfolk police are far better placed than a government minister in Whitehall to decide what the local priorities are.

"The proposals also call for police authorities to be elected by local people, rather than appointed by ministers. That will mean policing priorities are under the control of local people."

Other proposals to be debated by the Liberal Democrats include appointing 10,000 extra police officers, paid for by scrapping the expensive and bureaucratic National Identity Card scheme.