Police chiefs defy call to cut pledge

In an speech last month Theresa May announced that Labour's much heralded 10-point pledge was to be dropped saying forces should "cut crime, no more and no less".

But police in the county have agreed there is a need for a framework such as the Policing Pledge, and want to retain many parts of the initiative despite Mrs May's comments.

In a report to the county's police authority, which oversees the work of the force, Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes says a review is now underway over the force's own "pledge".

He adds: "The evidence suggests that our staff are very much on board with the concept and actually need a clear set of guiding principles that helps them deliver the service the public of South Yorkshire deserve.

"To abandon the concepts of the Policing Pledge could be very damaging to the force and would undo all the work and effort that has taken place over the last two years to both understand, and meet the demands of the public we police.

"A pledge in some form is an essential part of out commitment to the communities of South Yorkshire, provides focus to our staff and can be used as a framework to drive improvements and efficiency savings that are needed in the current economic downturn."

Mr Hughes says that the Government's decision to abandon something known as the "single confidence measure" also flies in the face of recent work which has been taking place.

He adds: "Ironically, just as the force was starting to see 'green shoots' in relation to changing cultures, especially within our organisation, the new Government has decided to do away with the single confidence measure.

"Unfortunately this has been interpreted by a few as meaning that it is no longer important what the public thinks."

Before the General Election in May, police forces across the country spent considerable amounts of money on posters and leaflets which advertised the pledge and its promises.

But Mrs May said she wanted to see an end to the scheme at a conference of the Association of Chief Police officers at the end of June and sweep aside the targets set by Labour.

She said: "I know that some officers like the Policing Pledge, and some, I'm sure, like the comfort of knowing they've ticked boxes. I couldn't be any clearer about your mission: It isn't a 30-point plan, it is to cut crime. No more, and no less."

Her comments have attracted criticism from political opponents, who have described her stance as an "attack on community policing" and were met with disquiet from many chief constables.

Mr Hughes says in his report that the "re-marketing" of a South Yorkshire Police Commitment would "not be significant" bearing in mind the publicity the pledge had already received.

He says: "There is consensus in South Yorkshire Police that the Policing Pledge accurately summarises the service that we seek to deliver to members of the public. Feedback from staff is that the Policing Pledge should be retained, but given the Home Secretary's recent speech, some officers believe commitments are no longer required.

"If an early decision is not reached on how the force is to progress, there is considerable risk that staff will be confused and members of the public will be unsure of the service we aspire to.

"If we stop delivering on the commitments of the Policing Pledge, this will impact on public confidence as, quite rightly, the public will believe we have broken previously agreed promises."