The National Policing Plan  

The police force is a very large organisation and is funded by the taxpayer. It also has an exceptionally important task of protecting the public from crime. In today's society, there is a huge wealth of issues dealt with by the police, and this needs to be kept in check. The police force has to be focused and really needs to address the issues that are the most important. Police resources are limited and thus the National Policing Plan is in place to define its priorities.

The National Policing Plan lasts for three years and sets out the priorities for the police force over the three following years. This includes performance targets and specific crimes that need addressing. This plan is published by the Home Office and was developed with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Police Authorities.

The National Policing Plan is the third of its kind and the first one was published in 2003. By having a plan, the police force will be much more focused and thus able to employ its resources effectively to tackle the issues facing our communities today.

The plan is also a good way of moving the police force forward. By setting targets and pushing for further improvement, the national policing plan will improve the quality of service provided by police forces across the country. This is a necessary part in the structure of the police force as it allows a greater level of focus in terms of priority setting.

The National Policing Plan can be a very assuring tool for the public. By setting out its priorities, the police force becomes more open to the public who can understand what to expect from the police force. This opens up the police force and makes the force appear much more approachable. This can only be beneficial to the public and a greater understanding of the police force can help the public work with the community teams to reduce crime and promote an enhanced community spirit.

In addition to the National Policing Plan, the Home Office have also published the National Community Safety Plan. This falls in line with the move to a more citizen-focused policing style. This plan sets out the targets for the reform of policing strategies to a more community friendly approach. This is a move into the future and shows the public that the police are really thinking about how their service can continue to improve with every new plan published.

The police force in England and Wales is a very large operation with a very large responsibility. Due to the former fact, the force needs a direction and a set of targets for the future. With so many resources being thrown at crime prevention, the police force needs to be directed and focused so that they can be spent in an effective manner. The national policing plan provides this direction and is behind the push to improve the police force year after year.

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