The Liberal Democrats propose to boost frontline officer strength by 3,000 over four years through savings created by scrapping the Government’s plans to introduce ID cards.

With the general elections around the corner all three parties are exposing their plans to bring changes to the way police forces tackle crime.

Lib Dem party leader Nick Clegg has said forces in England, Wales and Scotland would all get a boost to their frontline officers with money saved from scrapping Labour’s ID cards.

The Lib Dems manifesto ‘Safer Streets – More and Better Policing’, includes plans for:

• Elected police authorities


• Publishing detection data as well as crime data at station level


• A review of the restrictive terms and conditions for police officers, including introducing an annual fitness check for all officers on the beat

Mr Clegg said: “The Liberal Democrats are the only party that wants to cut crime by putting more police on the street.

“When only one in a hundred crimes ends up with a conviction in court, it is time for things to change.

“Labour and the Conservatives may talk tough but they are unwilling to make the crucial decisions to cut crime.”

Get the full story in next week’s Police Professional. Out Thursday February 11th.

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