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PM Gordon Brown has pledged to take neighbourhood policing contracts nationwide as part of Labour's local election campaign. Mr Brown put policing and local accountability at the heart of his campaign for the crucial council elections in May. He pledged to establish local policing teams and enable residents to discuss policing priorities with senior officers. He said: ‘Every community of the country is going to have neighbourhood policing and have local meetings to discuss the local issues you're concerned about. That will lead to neighbourhood contracts, where local residents and police come together to decide "here are the priorities, this is what we've got to do, this is how we can make it a safer place".' Neighbourhood contracts have been piloted in England over the past two years. The issue's inclusion in the campaign is a victory for communities secretary, Hazel Blears, and her local empowerment agenda. It follows calls made by local government leaders for radical reform of police accountability. Newham LBC mayor, Sir Robin Wales, has urged ministers to go further. He said: ‘The answer is giving people greater democratic control over the priorities their police pursue.' London Councils and LGA leader, Sir Simon Milton, has also urged change, arguing that local authorities should have the power to sack poor-performing police chiefs. David Davis, Conservative shadow home secretary, said the Government's package would have little impact. ‘These contracts will mean nothing to areas swamped with drugs and plagued by violence,' he said. ‘As for giving out phone numbers, our police already spend less than one-fifth of their time on the beat. ‘The public want them on the streets, not on the phone.'

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WHITEHALL

Brown's pledge over local policing teams

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