Cllr Geoff Heathcock

Geoff who recently announced he is likely to stand as a Candidate in 2012 for the elected Police Commissioner for Cambridgeshire – assuming the legislation goes through Parliament has again expressed his anxiety at the amount of time most Police Officers in the County indeed the Country are able to spend actually doing the job for which they were sworn in – keeping the Queen’s Peace and being seen in their Community.

It can be no surprise to hear the latest miserable statistic of 10% – from a report by the HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary which reflects the very tiny amount of time a Police Officer is visable on the streets. You will never drive crime down or give the Public any measure of assurance that they are safe – while the criminal is aware that Officers are so invisable. By 1950 or 1960 standards – we have more Officers that ever and yet in both large towns like Cambridge and Huntingdon nevermind the smaller ones like Ely or March, the ability to actually see an Officer walking the streets and making contact with the Public is as likely as winning the Lottery on a Saturday evening. This has to be reversed with a bonfire of regulations and the ability of an Officer to get out there and use their common sense, their training and their instinct to Police intelligently.