Government officials have proposed repurposing libraries, shopping centers, and supermarkets to serve as police front desks due to a concerning decline in these facilities over the past decade.
The Liberal Democrats plan to advocate for the establishment of hundreds of police desks across England and Wales to address the reduction in police presence. According to Lisa Smart, the party’s spokesperson for home affairs, the closures of these facilities during the previous administration have made it harder for the public to report crimes.
Smart emphasized the need to remove obstacles hindering people from reporting crimes, stating that many individuals feel disconnected from law enforcement. Data obtained through Freedom of Information requests indicates a 26% decrease in the number of police counters from 365 to 268 between 2015 and the present.
Among the police forces surveyed, Bedfordshire Police experienced the most significant reduction in front desks at 78% over the past decade. Other forces, including Surrey Police, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, and Metropolitan forces, also saw substantial cuts ranging from 52% to 78%.
During the Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth, Smart proposed funding the new police desks by eliminating police and crime commissioners (PCCs), a move the party has long advocated for. Research by the party revealed that PCCs incurred significant administrative costs, with one commissioner in the West Midlands receiving an annual salary exceeding £100,000.
Smart stressed the importance of visible and accessible policing within communities, criticizing the current government for neglecting neighborhood policing. She called for a clearer strategy to increase police presence in both urban and rural areas, highlighting the target of adding 13,000 officers and PCSOs to neighborhood policing teams.
While the government has committed to recruiting 3,000 officers by next March and reaching the full quota by 2029, Smart argued that more resources are needed to support policing effectively. She criticized the previous Tory government for under-resourcing law enforcement and urged for long-term planning and clarity from the current administration.
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