With Home secretary Shabana Mahmood set to announce significant reforms to policing in England and Wales, police will be given an aim to answer 999 calls within 10 seconds and reach serious incidents within 15 minutes in cities and 20 minutes in rural areas. Ms Mahmood commented: “Everyday crimes are on the rise… By the time the police arrive, the perpetrators and witnesses are long gone.” She also announced plans to abolish non-crime hate incidents, saying they distract police from addressing everyday crime. She emphasised the need for officers to focus on “catching criminals” rather than policing social media. The reforms set to be announced also include the establishment of a new National Police Service to handle counter-terrorism and organised crime, while local forces will focus on everyday crime. Police will also need a licence to practice, ensuring ongoing training. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “It’s hard to take Labour’s promises seriously when they have stripped more than 1,300 officers from the front line in our communities,” while Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Max Wilkinson said the Government “must deliver” on its promises and “get more officers back onto our streets.” John Hayward-Cripps, the chief executive of Neighbourhood Watch, welcomed the plans, saying: “It’s a very basic expectation that police will respond when you report a crime, and quickly when it is serious.”
