Residents to get say on policing

Residents will get a greater say in the way their streets are policed under reforms to be unveiled today by Home Secretary David Blunkett.

He is expected to reveal plans to help local communities decide who is in charge of police in their neighbourhoods.

The proposals are expected to lead to direct elections to police authorities but will not see elected chief constables after claims that they would lead to American-style sheriffs.

The plans will also see forces publishing "local plans" for tackling the crimes which most concern people, with each London borough commander going public over their priorities.

However, critics say the moves will be useless unless Mr Blunkett abandons central Home Office targets against which police performance is currently measured as these would continue to over-ride local concerns.

Today Mr Blunkett was also due to say that more local crime figures will be made available - raising the possibility of every police station's arrest statistics being available on the internet.