Police Information

‘NEW YORK’ STYLE POLICING

Mon, May 21, 2001

Source:

The Police Federation call for ‘New York’ Style Policing

 

The federation wants police numbers to rise to 140,000

The Chairman of the Police Federation, Fred Broughton, has called for the British Police to copy Crime-fighting tactics used in the most violent areas of New York

Mr Broughton said that England and Wales could learn from the US city where an increase in officer numbers over the last decade has seen a dramatic decrease in crime.

Speaking ahead of the Police Federation annual conference in Blackpool, Mr Broughton said there were not enough officers to make cities and towns safe. Taking Bedford as an example, he said doormen at nightclubs rather than officers on the beat effectively policed the city centre.

Mr Broughton called for 140,000 police officers by the year 2004, a 10% rise. This would mean recruiting 11,000 officers a year as around 6,000 were leaving the service in the same period.

"The demand for more police follows exclusive federation research comparing the latest available data from London and New York highlighting how well the Big Apple is performing in reducing crime and the fear of crime with substantially more officers," he added.

The research shows that a 42% rise in uniformed officers in New York has contributed to a 54% reduction in notifiable offences, including a reduction of 66% in murders and manslaughter.

He said that London had 25,121 officers - one per 295 citizens and a total of 1,052,000 crimes per year.

New York, with a population of 7,285,000, had 45,535, officers, one per 161 citizens.

Berlin had 27,298 officers, one per 124 citizens, compared with Sheffield, which had 972 police, one per 545 citizens.

Greater Manchester had 6,851 officers, one per 376 citizens.

Mr Broughton added: "If you go to Times Square today you see police officers. "Ten years ago Times Square was a place that was unsafe. "If you go to Harlem today you see a very different Harlem to the one you would have seen ten years ago. It's a safer place."

The federation leader said he would like to see five changes in the service in the next few years:

§         At least 140,000 officers, backed with additional resources, with a stronger make-up of special constables.

 

• Officers returning to the community at local police stations with a special housing allowance.

 

• The American-style "three strikes and you're out" system where offenders are jailed for life after committing three offences should be implemented as soon as possible. 

 

• Assets seized from criminals should be ploughed back into the local police force.

 

• A more efficient information technology system which would allow forces to communicate more easily with each other and the Crown Prosecution Service.

The federation, which this year is held in Blackpool will be addressed by Home Secretary Jack Straw, shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe and Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Simon Hughes.