Police (Administrative Burden)

Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 23 May 2005.

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Photo of Eric Forth Eric Forth Conservative, Bromley and Chislehurst 2:30, 23 May 2005

What assessment he has made of the administrative burden for police personnel.

Photo of Andy Burnham Andy Burnham Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Making the best possible use of the record policing resources we have is central to building a more responsive and effective police service. Our drive to cut police bureaucracy has led to the scrapping of 7,700 unnecessary forms, more civilian staffing of backroom posts, and greater use of technology such as video identity parades. Taken together, those and other measures will free up the equivalent of 12,000 officers for the front line by 2008.

Photo of Eric Forth Eric Forth Conservative, Bromley and Chislehurst

While congratulating the hon. Gentleman on his appointment and new responsibilities, may I say that I hope that he does not show the same complacency when he answers questions in future? Is he seriously suggesting that he is remotely happy with the constraints that now exist on our excellent police officers, who are trying to do a job on the front line when they are burdened by bureaucracy, paperwork, administration, political correctness and all the other nonsense that this Government have put around their necks?

Photo of Andy Burnham Andy Burnham Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his generous welcome. Perhaps I can pay him a back-handed compliment by saying that he would not have been my first choice of inquisitor at the Dispatch Box.

The Home Secretary acknowledged last week that there is further to go in cutting unnecessary bureaucracy in the police force, but the right hon. Gentleman must accept that a level of bureaucracy is necessary if we are to have an accountable police force that has the confidence of the public. He and his Conservative colleagues need to bear that in mind.

Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour, Ogmore

May I also welcome my hon. Friend to his position? Far from criticising his Department, may I welcome the initiatives that it has introduced, particularly its innovative use of technology to break down the burden of bureaucracy? How soon will best practice in reducing bureaucracy, particularly the innovative use of technology, be rolled out to all forces throughout the land?

Photo of Andy Burnham Andy Burnham Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his welcome. He raises an important point. That drive was begun by my right hon. Friend John Denham and was carried on by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Policing, Security and Community Safety. The aim is to increase the amount of time that police spend on the front line from 63 per cent. to 72 per cent. Technology is playing a part in that. Increasingly, we are using video identity parades. Airwave radios have enabled police to carry out their functions much more efficiently. My hon. Friend makes a sensible point. It is crucial that we spread best practice around the 43 police forces.

Photo of Paul Beresford Paul Beresford Conservative, Mole Valley

Will the Minister tell us what plans he has to reduce the extent of bureaucratic and costly inspections of the police force, and of procedures such as best value?

Photo of Andy Burnham Andy Burnham Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The challenge that we must look at is rationalising the inspection process and the institutions that carry it out. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that this Front-Bench team is committed to ensuring that that takes place.

Photo of Dennis Skinner Dennis Skinner Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee

How much bureaucracy ensued as a result of that police officer travelling at 159 mph on the motorway?

Photo of Andy Burnham Andy Burnham Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving me an easy question on my first appearance at the Dispatch Box. I know the case to which he refers, and the police force in question took rapid steps to say that that practice was not acceptable. As a result of that case, we now have a more sensible regime in place.

Photo of Edward Garnier Edward Garnier Shadow Minister (Home Affairs)

May I also congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his new responsibilities? Will he identify any way in which the Government's best value scheme has increased police efficiency, reduced crime, improved detection rates, made our streets safer or improved our civil liberties?

Photo of Andy Burnham Andy Burnham Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The new procurement procedures to which the hon. and learned Gentleman refers have removed many outdated practices. Across the 43 police forces, there is much more sensible use of technology and civilians have been put into backroom posts. Throughout the police services of England and Wales, the best value regime is helping the police to procure in a more sensible way. Over time, it is helping to free up police time spent on the front line, which is important to communities.