Police front desks should be established in public locations like libraries, shopping centers, and supermarkets due to a concerning decline in numbers over the past decade, as per government officials. The Liberal Democrats are set to propose the creation of hundreds of these desks across England and Wales, with funding coming from the elimination of police and crime commissioners. According to Lisa Smart, the party’s spokesperson for home affairs, closures of these service points under the Conservative government have led to decreased crime reporting and visibility of police officers, hindering crime solving efforts.
Statistics obtained through Freedom of Information requests reveal a significant 26% decrease in police counters from 365 to 268 between 2015 and the present. Among the 20 police forces surveyed, Bedfordshire Police experienced the most drastic reduction with a 78% drop in front desks over the past decade. Other forces like Surrey Police, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, and Metropolitan forces also saw substantial declines of 60%, 58%, 53%, and 52%, respectively.
During a speech at the Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth, Lisa Smart emphasized that the costs of establishing these front desks could be covered by abolishing police and crime commissioners, a stance the party has long held. The party’s research indicates that police and crime commissioners incurred £100 million in administrative expenses between 2019 and 2023, with individual commissioners such as the one in the West Midlands earning over £100,000 annually. Smart highlighted the importance of community policing and accessibility of law enforcement for effective crime prevention and resolution.
Criticism was directed at the Conservative government for neglecting neighborhood policing, with accusations that the current administration has not provided a clear plan for increasing police presence in communities. The government’s commitment to adding 13,000 officers and PCSOs to neighborhood policing teams was discussed, with a promise to have 3,000 in place by next March and the full quota by 2029. Smart stressed the necessity for increased resources for policing, citing past under-resourcing and lack of long-term planning under the previous Tory government.
