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Warning: I am not a policeman.Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has told delegates at the Labour Party conference about her plans for a new army of community crime fighters.
Ms Smith is keen to give communities a larger input into local policing and sees the new volunteers as another weapon in the fight against anti-social behaviour.
Addressing the Party faithful, Ms Smith said: "I can announce new funding for an army of community crime fighters, to back up the unsung heroes who want to turn the tables on graffiti, on yobs and on violent crime.
"We'll give them the skills and training they need to get results. One for every neighbourhood policing team, a local voice, a direct link."
The scheme, costing the Government £5 million, will see one volunteer allocated to each of 3,600 neighbourhood policing teams across England and Wales.
Ms Smith's announcement comes a few weeks after a leaked Home Office memo revealed the Government's concern that crime will increase due to the current economic downturn.
The move is reminiscent of the introduction of Police Community Support Officer's (PCSOs) during David Blunkett's tenure at the Home Office. In the six years since their inception "Blunkett's bobbies" have attracted criticism for their inability to deal with the most trivial of offences.
Ms Smith is keen to give communities a larger input into local policing and sees the new volunteers as another weapon in the fight against anti-social behaviour.
Addressing the Party faithful, Ms Smith said: "I can announce new funding for an army of community crime fighters, to back up the unsung heroes who want to turn the tables on graffiti, on yobs and on violent crime.
"We'll give them the skills and training they need to get results. One for every neighbourhood policing team, a local voice, a direct link."
The scheme, costing the Government £5 million, will see one volunteer allocated to each of 3,600 neighbourhood policing teams across England and Wales.
Ms Smith's announcement comes a few weeks after a leaked Home Office memo revealed the Government's concern that crime will increase due to the current economic downturn.
The move is reminiscent of the introduction of Police Community Support Officer's (PCSOs) during David Blunkett's tenure at the Home Office. In the six years since their inception "Blunkett's bobbies" have attracted criticism for their inability to deal with the most trivial of offences.
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