Newcastle Journal: Police Pledge Criticised

A NEW "policing pledge" requiring forces to sign up to national standards was condemned as a "costly charade" today as Jacqui Smith
hailed the first constabulary to deliver on it.

The Home Secretary is to visit Essex Police to congratulate the force on meeting service levels set out in the pledge.

Signed by every force in England and Wales, it includes a police commitment to setting priorities with local communities and updating them on progress at least once a month. It also requires officers to respond to calls concerning agreed priorities within an hour.

But the TaxPayers' Alliance accused forces of wasting time and public money in "stating the blindingly obvious".

The Home Secretary also today announced that 60 areas had signed up to a Government drive for high visibility "community payback" for offenders.

The areas include Newcastle, South Tyneside and Sunderland.