Police and Justice Bill

My hon. Friend makes two excellent points—namely, the issues of SOCA and federation. As I mentioned last week in the House, the Government are always lecturing Opposition Members to listen to professionals. Why do not the Government listen to professionals? Why not listen to the West Mercia chief constable, Paul West? Why not listen to the police authority? It wants the Government to leave it alone and allow it to get on with its job. The point about regional co-operation without having to go into all of the major changes that the Government are proposing is one that has been made well. I hope that the Minister will respond to that. It was Sir Ian Blair who said that national security depends on neighbourhood security. We so often hear about the lack of human intelligence. Often, low-level crime leads the police to an awareness of higher-level crime. If we see a reduction of police contact on the street with local people, I think that the Government’s aims of defeating terrorism and serious crime will be undermined through lack of human intelligence and a lack of communication with local police constables. There are numerous cases throughout the land where the local bobby on the beat has uncovered a major crime, including an attempt at a major terrorist incident. It is not always the regional taskforce or the intelligence agencies that do that. Often successes are due to the hard work, diligence and care of local constables on the beat. They cannot be looking for serious crime in Shropshire if they are being asked to attend football events in Birmingham. I ask the Minister to consider the proposals of my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron). He set out an alternative approach that is based on the key principles of sharing responsibility and trusting people. He proposes that"““Central control of the police would be replaced with direct local accountability through elected commissioners or police authorities, rebuilding the link between forces and their communities.””"