The home secretary said planned reforms would free up police officers to fight crime Proposals aimed at reducing police bureaucracy have been announced by Home Secretary Theresa May.
She said the plans marked a “watershed moment” in policing and could save up to 2.5 million police hours each year.
The Home Office’s plan would allow police officers, rather than the Crown Prosecution Service, to decide whether to press charges in up to 80% of cases, with some people being charged by post.
The police should be “chasing criminals not chasing targets,” said Mrs May.
The home secretary said the reforms would “send a clear signal that the professional judgment of individual officers is valued and it is expected”.
“We’ve stopped the weary cycle of over-reaction, inquiries, blame, legislation, codes and guidance and blanket remedial training for all,” she said.
“We will take a different approach – we will trust the police.”
The move to charge thousands of people by a letter would see bailed suspects sent formal charges through the post, instead of being asked to attend police stations.
It is hoped the approach could save up to 40,000 police hours annually.
However, the home secretary said targets and guidance which are scrapped nationally should not be replaced by local versions in each of the 43 forces.
“It will be key for the reforms I have outlined to be carried through by individual forces and individual officers at the local level.
“The potential rewards for the police are enormous, but they must make them happen,” Mrs May said.
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