Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Home Office

Oral Answers to Questions

David Ruffley Excerpts
Monday 9th May 2011

(13 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Herbert of South Downs Portrait Nick Herbert
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The Government decided to maintain the ring-fencing for the neighbourhood policing fund outside London so that funding would continue to be available for police community support officers, whom we support because they do an important job as part of the policing family, working alongside police officers.

David Ruffley Portrait Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds) (Con)
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The Home Secretary’s plans to cut police red tape, which were announced this morning, will sadly save each police officer only 20 minutes each week. Why is she not being more radical?

Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait Mrs May
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This is not the end of the story. Indeed, we are working in a number of ways to ensure that we continue to cut police bureaucracy. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice is looking at savings in bureaucracy that can be made across the criminal justice system. Chris Sims, the chief constable of West Midlands police, is the ACPO lead on reducing bureaucracy and is looking at other ways of reducing bureaucracy. Sara Thornton, the chief constable of Thames Valley police, is looking to reduce the 600 different guidance documents that ACPO provides to police forces to fewer than 100. Those examples show that this is work in progress, but our commitment is absolutely clear.