Former New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton succeeded, so why can’t we?

I’m talking about his ‘broken windows’ theory of policing.

In simple terms, every crime, even the most minor offence, was followed-up.

In that context, I welcome the recent improvements in several of our larger, metropolitan forces.

Stephen Watson, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, who lifted the Force out of special measures last autumn, says the answer is “local cops on the patch who know it and are doing something sensible about it.”

I could not agree more, and Dorset Police totally get this.

Similarly, Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley is boosting neighbourhood teams and PCSO numbers in London, insisting that the public should report every instance of antisocial behaviour, no matter how small.

Hurrah!

And on Humberside, former Chief Constable Lee Freeman stopped his officers attending routine mental health callouts, a policy which it’s estimated will save one million police hours when adopted nationally in October.

Accordingly, this week, the Home Secretary asked Forces across the country to follow ‘every reasonable line of enquiry’ for every crime.

It’s high time.

In the year to March 2023, just 3.9 per cent of all residential burglaries resulted in charges, while 74 per cent of thefts were closed without a suspect, and violent crime increased by almost a fifth.

What the public wants is being noted too.

High on the list is impartiality.

Sir Mark says the police must operate without fear or favour, so ‘taking the knee’, flying rainbow flags, supporting environmental causes and adorning uniforms with anything other than a few exceptions will not be tolerated.

And, this week, six former home secretaries have backed new legislation enabling police chiefs to root out bad apples swiftly.

All this is long overdue.