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Johnson plans to cut red tape and save 200,000 police hours
Ben Bailey16.09.09
Home Secretary Alan Johnson will today announce plans to slash police red tape by cutting the size of the stop and search form.
In a speech to the Police Superintendents' conference Mr Johnson will pledge to "radically slim down" the form to save police time.
The number of entries officers are required to fill in when they stop a suspect but do not arrest them could be drastically reduced from more than 10 now to just two or three.
Police will still have to record the ethnicity of the person stopped and the reason why.
But other details, such as what was found, the registration of any vehicle involved, and if any property was damaged during the search, would be dropped.
Officials predict the changes could save officers up to 200,000 hours every year.
Following a pilot scheme the measures are likely to be included in the upcoming Policing, Crime and Private Security Bill.
Mr Johnson will say: "Over the last few years, we've made huge efforts to cut the laborious and unnecessary paperwork that chains police officers to their desks.
"Currently, regardless of whether someone who is stopped and searched is arrested, police officers still have to fill in the form.
"It's obviously essential to record the ethnicity of the person who is stopped and the reason they were stopped, so if they wish to make a complaint because they think they were unfairly treated, their complaint can be properly considered.
"But there should be no need for the police to record anything further.
"In the forthcoming Policing, Crime and Private Security Bill, we will take the first steps towards radically slimming down the form for such incidents."
The change is the latest in a series of moves aimed at increasing the amount of time officers can spend not doing paperwork.
Over the last 18 months ministers have scrapped a longer stop and account form and the requirement for officers to fill in a form explaining how they spent every 15 minutes of their shift.
Mr Johnson is also expected to address the debate over political involvement in policing.
Yesterday Britain's most senior officer Sir Paul Stephenson told the conference, in Warwick, that operational decisions were "ours alone" and added that "no sensible politician would think otherwise".
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner called for an "appropriate space between policing and politics".
A row broke out earlier this month when deputy London Mayor Kit Malthouse said he and Boris Johnson had their "hands on the tiller" of the force.
Reader views (10)
PDA's!! Give the police PDA's... been promised for years...
- Sense, LONDON
How can they seek credit for correcting something that they created in the first place.
When challenged on this years ago they stood their ground, stating that it was important and relevant information that they were collecting.
But now we have a general election on the way, it is we will "radically slim down"
Who will save us from these inept bungling fools
- Steve M, London
James from City of London: "Good - action at last!"
I wouldn't hold your breath if I were you James. He's not the first (of many) Labour Home Secretary's in the last 12 years to "promise" a redfuction in burearcracy and red tape. They've had several working party's and quango's looking at ways to reduce red-tape for years!!!
Just more "spin" and "headline fodder" I'm afraid.
- Malcolm, London
Don't worry the reduction in police time and cost will be more than swallowed up by the 'Red Tape Reduction Unit' which will need offices, furniture, a Director General and a large number of staff to produce the many directives required to implement this 'initiative'.
- Patrick, Dalston
It is all just posturing for the general election. This Labour government promised us a vote on the EU Constitution, still waiting for that one ...
If anybody believes a single promise this government makes between now and the election, they need their sanity tested.
PS: They spent over 12 years creating reams and reams of red tape and treating victims of crime with contempt, do you really think these are the people to turn things around?
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Just another good idea to make policing more efficient that New Labour has stolen from it's originators, the Tories.
Does Postman Pat take us for fools?
- Ted, London
Good - action at last !
- James, City of London
This part of the non politicisation of the police then? He'll be doing away with speed cameras next!!!! Does the release of 200,000 hours mean that overtime will be reduced? I think not!!!!
- Alan, carlisle uk
As it was this government which brought in most of the red tape to start with,it is a bit rich Johnson/Labour now saying they are doing a great job in getting rid of it.
Wow,getting rid of 2 forms is going to save 15 minutes and why does it need an act of Parliament to get rid of forms to start with?
- Grumpy As Hell, wimbledon
Can someone please explain to this lunatic politician that just putting the form through the photocopier set on 'reduce' does not, and I do think it really needs emphasising here, does not, reduce the amount of work required to fill it in.
- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark
