By GB News (World News) | Created at 2025-01-31 14:56:11 | Updated at 2025-01-31 17:50:13
3 hours ago
Former Home Office minister Ann Widdecombe has called for a major shake-up of police work, suggesting that many duties could be handled by civilian staff.
Speaking on GB News, Widdecombe highlighted the need to reorganise police operations, pointing to excessive bureaucracy as a key issue.
Widdecombe told GB News: “Reform have promised 40,000 [more police] over the course of the parliament; you can't do 40,000 in five minutes.
“I myself think that is only the start. We also need to reorganise what they're doing. There's far too much bureaucracy, a lot of it could be handled by civilians. I was saying this back in 1998.
She pointed to a recent incident highlighting police inaction on theft.
"We had the incident only a week or so ago when somebody was robbed. She had every last device.
"She could supply the camera footage, she could supply the number of the car but the police still weren't interested until she made a fuss on social media," Widdecombe said.
The former minister called for police to take shoplifting more seriously. The comments come as a Find Out Now survey shows Reform UK commanding 27 per cent of voter support, putting them four points ahead of Labour and six points ahead of the Conservatives.
Ann claimed that Civilians could be doing their work
MERSEYSIDE POLICE
"[The polling] continues a trend that's been going on for some time. We've been rising in the polls steadily and we overtook the Tories some time ago," Widdecombe said.
She noted the party's consistent progress since the general election.
"We've been neck and neck with Labour for a long time, and now it looks as if we really have gone ahead of them," she added.
The former minister acknowledged this was just one poll but pointed to other surveys showing Reform UK neck and neck with major parties.
Separate research by Survation has also placed Reform UK ahead of the Conservatives, with Farage's party at 24 per cent compared to the Tories' 22 per cent.
The Survation poll shows Labour leading on 27 per cent, with Reform UK just three points behind.
According to Survation's strategy and research manager Jack Peacock: "The electorate is fragmented, with disillusioned voters seeking alternatives beyond the two main parties."
