Policing and crimal justice minister Nick Herbert

by Andy Gray

People in Kent could soon be telling police which crimes to investigate.

The “neighbourhood takes charge” scheme has been a success in Holland, where it has helped cut crime by 70% in its first year of operation.

Police minister Nick Herbert was due to visit Rotterdam this week to explore the initiative that allows communities to use 20 police hours each week to tackle problems on their behalf.

Kent Chief Police Constable Ian Learmonth said he is keen to find out about the scheme and arranged for a team of officers to visit the Dutch town of Bolnes where it was piloted.

He has also set up a meeting so his counterparts in Holland can brief officers in Kent about the groundbreaking programme.

He said: “We are planning to host an event so that a wider range of partners can meet and hear directly from the Bolnes team about their style and achievements. This has the potential to significantly change our approach to community safety in the UK.”

In Rotterdam, a group of residents meet police and council each month to tell them where they want officers to patrol and which crimes they want addressed.

It is said to tally with the coalition’s big society agenda and is designed to make police more accountable.

Opponents of the scheme have said it should be left to police to decide which crimes were worth investigating.

Cllr David Naghi, Liberal Democrat representative for Maidstone’s East ward, said: “It seems like a good idea and one that’s worth a trial in this country.

“But at the end of the day whatever the public tell police it’s up to officers to act on that information.

“Ultimately, as always, it should be left to the professionals to decide if a crime needs looking into.”

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