Geoff Ogden: Drop the initiatives, and let police do their job

The service has had to adjust and has done well to juggle resources to deal with these demands, but it has been frequently hindered by "initiative overload" from the government.

What then do we require from a new Government to ensure that we can all live in safety from terrorism, local crime and disorder?

Theresa May, the new Home Secretary, should allow the police do their job with minimum government interference on operational issues and "initiative overload".

She should avoid "eye-catching" ideas that may achieve swift public popularity, but do not work in practice. She should reduce the massive inspection regime by a variety of government departments that takes up so much time.

I welcome her intention, made to the Police Federation yesterday, to simplify the criminal justice system to return decision making on charges to experienced custody officers and inspectors prior to CPS involvement.

The more successful officers are in detecting offences and arresting villains, the more time is spent on servicing the system to prepare files for court. Evidence, the search for the truth, accuracy and detail is crucial but simplified with speedier justice. It can be done.

Mrs May should refrain from knee- jerk law-making when existing good law properly enforced already exists. As in all public services, spending cuts are to be expected but they can be achieved by simplifying "back office" systems to maintain and improve front line services.

I hope that she retains the services of police community support officers but with no additional powers. She should not waste time on further plans to merge police forces, but encourage greater combined working between forces – this is already happening in Yorkshire.

However, I hope that she will quickly abandon plans to elect local police commissioners which will only politicise the post. Increase confidence in local government so that elected members with experience can join police authorities similar to the former Watch Committee system that worked well for many decades, supported by specialist secondments by elected members which ensures that there is no

democratic deficit.

On terrorism, the police and security services have succeeded in fighting the constant threat that will always be with us. These efforts can be strengthened by increasing and improving further neighbourhood policing teams which gain public confidence and marginalise terrorist groups.

Neighbourhood policing is not a return to the parish pump constabulary philosophy promoted by some Chief Constables and Ministers in the

recent past at the expense of specialist units and major crime investigation. Cobwebs have to be swept away to cope with the demands of modern policing.

On drugs, arms and people trafficking, a regional and national approach is the key to success. The formation of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency, while only fairly successful, has left a gap with the demise of regional crime squads.

The 10-year National Drug Strategy, launched in 2008, had real

potential and, for the first time, brought agencies together to reduce supply, educate the young and treat the addicted. However, this has been watered down subsequently. Control of the strategy has returned to the Home Office, hence the confusion over drug classification and mixed messages about levels of harm. That has increased in recent months with the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs members being in complete disarray about their "advisory" role.

The new Government must examine again how drugs are classified. The

whole drug treatment programme must be changed, with the emphasis

moving from costly methadone maintenance to 150,000 addicts, 65,000 being in prison, to properly supported abstinence programmes.

This will require longer prison sentences for many, but it has the potential to steer them away from drugs. The savings would adequately pay for this treatment. Having been criticised recently by the all-party Public Accounts Committee, the Home Office must sharpen up on measuring the effectiveness of the strategy in relation to crime, repeat offending and drug use.

I'd also go further on anti-social behaviour – I prefer the term "crime and disorder". All legislation introduced since 1998 should be

repealed. The police should enforce, with vigour, existing and established good law on theft, criminal damage, public order, offences against the person and road traffic.

Scrap all the anti-social behaviour posts grown in local government and use the savings for additional police officers and detached youth workers. Outsource local authority youth services to voluntary organisations – changes which will allow us all to live in safety. Over to you, Home Secretary.

Geoff Ogden was head of Humberside CID before becoming the drug action team manager for Hull and the East Riding.