Ed Miliband and Yvette Cooper welcome Lord Stevens’ independent review of policing

In remarks at the launch of the final report of the independent police commission, Ed Miliband will welcome the Commission’s focus on neighbourhood policing as the bedrock of effective policing and the need for reform to deliver more with less.

On neighbourhood policing, he is expected to say:

“This review is the first step in setting a new direction for policing in the 21st Century.

“Neighbourhood policing was pioneered by Labour. It wasn’t just a slogan, it was a different philosophy of policing: policing rooted in local communities, doing more than reacting to crimes by also preventing them, and working in partnership with local authorities, schools and the NHS.

“So it is of profound concern to me that the independent Commission concludes that neighbourhood policing is under threat. We don’t want to see services retreating back to their silos, becoming more remote from communities.”

On the importance of reform to deliver for less, he will say:

“These are tough times and it is more important than ever that we get maximum value for money from every penny of taxpayers’ money that is spent on the key public services.

“We recognise that after the next election, a One Nation Labour government will be seeking to improver public services in tough fiscal circumstances. That is why the Commission is absolutely right to focus on the importance of savings and efficiencies. Crude salami-slicing without reform, as pursued by this government, simply stores up costs later down the line.

“This independent Commission has identified an initial £60million a year that could be saved by better procurement.

“That is cash that could be re-invested back into the front-line: saving that could mean an 500 additional police officers protecting our communities

“Over the next 12 months, we will continue to prioritise reforms that enable our police service to deliver more with less.”

Labour is now planning to spend the next 12 months consulting on the report’s recommendations before setting out its plans in next year’s manifesto.

Yvette Cooper MP, the Shadow Home Secretary, is expected to say:

“We asked Lord Stevens to lead the commission because we need a positive vision of policing for the 21st century. We are very grateful to all the independent experts from so many different fields who have given their time. It is important for public sector reform to be based on the best evidence and expertise and the views of communities.

"As Lord Stevens has made clear, people want to see the police working with communities, bobbies out on the beat, not beating a retreat.”