Background
10.The Government published the White Paper “Building Communities, Beating Crime: a better police service for the 21st century” (CM 6360) in November 2004. The White Paper set out the Government’s strategy for strengthening the ability of the police and their partners to prevent, deter, detect and reduce crime. The paper set out three broad objectives to achieve this, namely: to spread neighbourhood policing to every community with improved police responsiveness and customer service; further modernisation of the police workforce to ensure that the service is fully equipped and able to deliver these changes; and greater involvement of communities and citizens in determining how their communities are policed. Part 1 of the Act gives effect to those provisions in the White Paper that require primary legislation.
11.Chapter 4 of the White Paper set out the Government’s proposals for strengthening the effectiveness of CSOs, including proposals for developing a minimum set of powers for all CSOs irrespective of which force employs them. In August 2005 the Home Office published its consultation paper ‘Standard Powers for Community Support Officers and a Framework for the Future Development of Powers’. A summary of the responses to this consultation together with the Government’s response was published in January 2006 (available at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/cons-cso-powers-310805/). Section 7 makes provision for standard powers for CSOs.
12.The Government launched its anti-social behaviour strategy – the TOGETHER campaign – in 2003. Following the establishment of the Respect Task Force in September 2005, the Prime Minister published the Respect Action Plan (available at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/respect-action-plan) in January 2006. The Respect Action Plan set out the key elements of the Government strategy. Sections 19 to 27 give effect to a number of proposals in support of two limbs of the Action Plan, namely:
strengthening communities; and
ensuring effective enforcement and community justice.