Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged that every neighborhood in England and Wales will have a designated, contactable police officer as part of his “plan for change.” The promise, which is part of a wider agenda to address key policy areas such as the economy, housebuilding, the NHS, policing, and early education, aims to improve public safety and trust in law enforcement.
The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced that the government would allocate an extra £100 million next year to fund 1,200 new police officers, contributing to a wider commitment to recruit 13,000 additional neighborhood officers throughout the current Parliament. These new recruits will be part of the government’s plan to bolster the police force and restore public confidence in local law enforcement.
Cooper emphasized that the goal is not only to increase the number of officers but to “rebuild the vital connection between the public and the police,” ensuring officers become integral members of the communities they serve. “Through this visible, responsive police presence in every neighborhood, we will restore the trust and partnership that lies at the heart of keeping our communities safe,” she said.
While the idea of having a named officer assigned to each neighborhood is not new, and some forces already implement it, critics point out that there is little evidence to suggest that simply increasing patrols significantly reduces crime. However, it is believed that a consistent, visible police presence can improve public trust in law enforcement. Conversely, if named officers are unavailable or unresponsive, it could potentially damage community confidence.
The promise to recruit 13,000 additional police personnel, including Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and special constables, was part of Labour’s election manifesto. The Police Federation of England and Wales, which represents officers, welcomed the recruitment initiative but raised concerns about low morale among officers, citing real-terms pay cuts. A recent survey by the federation found that 22% of officers were planning to leave the force within the next two years due to these challenges.
While the number of police officers has increased following a pledge by the Conservative government in 2019 to recruit 20,000 additional officers, the number of PCSOs and special constables has continued to decline. Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized the Labour plan, claiming that while the government had recruited over 20,000 extra officers and allocated significant funds for policing, Starmer’s claim of 13,000 new officers was misleading and insufficiently funded.
