New police mandate aims to respond to key 999 calls within 15 minutes

DCM Editorial Summary: This story has been independently rewritten and summarised for DCM readers to highlight key developments relevant to the region. Original reporting by BBC, click this post to read the original article.

If you’re living in England or Wales, you’ll soon see an overhaul in how police respond to emergencies. New government plans will set clear targets for police to arrive within 15 minutes in cities and 20 minutes in rural areas. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says this change is part of a broader effort to deal with rising “everyday crimes” like shoplifting and phone theft, which she believes are currently going unpunished.

To make this happen, Mahmood wants to cut down on administrative work that keeps officers behind desks instead of patrolling streets. She says too many people report crimes only to wait for hours or even days without help. The police will be held accountable for meeting response time goals, and if they fall short, top-performing teams may be brought in to help improve local operations.

However, not everyone agrees with the Labour Party’s new proposals. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized the plan, pointing out that over 1,300 full-time police officers have been lost in the past year. Meanwhile, others in law enforcement, including the National Police Chiefs’ Council, warned about fixating on targets at the expense of safety. They say the nature of crime is changing, and policing must adapt to threats like cybercrime.

You’re also likely to see changes in how police departments are funded. Currently, some forces hire uniformed officers for desk jobs due to grant requirements. Mahmood wants to revise this system to ensure more officers stay on active duty. While some, like Neighbourhood Watch and the Liberal Democrats, support the changes, police leaders say it’s crucial that their voices are heard before these plans move ahead.