Eyes on the law

Sgt Richard Moorhouse, of Swindon police, set today's questions for the seven South Swindon candidates.

Sgt Moorhouse is the Swindon operations sergeants' representative in the Police Federation.

If crime has fallen as police numbers have risen it suggests that higher numbers of police officers do have a direct impact on crime. Would the candidates give an assurance their party would either increase or at least maintain the current numbers of officers?

Robert Buckland (Con)

"A Conservative Government will increase the number of police officers in England and Wales by 5,000 for each of the next eight years.

"I believe that a strong police presence in our communities is the best possible way of preventing crime. We will encourage an increase in the number of special constables by paying them an annual allowance."

Stephen Halden (UKIP)

"Under a UK Independence Party government there would be a huge increase in spending on the police and those protecting our borders.

"UKIP would increase spending on the police and other public services by £30m a day, which is what we pay to the European Union in membership fees.

"UKIP wants to see bobbies on the beat, and handcuffs on the criminals."

Alan Hayward (Ind)

"I am standing as an Independent candidate to offer a different approach to how politics is done. I could answer the policeman's questions, but this would be from a personal perspective only.

"As I am only one voice in

72,267 I don't think that this is representative of the people of South Swindon. As I have only just begun my campaign, I have not yet spoken to enough residents on law and order to be able to say what people want.

"However, I find the policeman's questions revealing and will explain what I am taking from each of his questions. He is saying that the police believe that they need at least as many officers as they have now to do their job and more would help."

Bill Hughes (Green)

"We would maintain the numbers of police officers but maybe increase part-time policemen and women because having more part-timers would mean that the force would be more flexible and could draw on extra staff when they were required."

Anne Snelgrove (Lab)

"Police numbers fell by one officer every working day under the Tories but since Labour came to power police numbers have increased by six officers every working day.

"We now have 63 more police and 12 new Community Support Officers in Swindon. And Labour has pledged to carry on funding the police force to enable it to continue to employ historically high numbers of police officers."

Sue Stebbing (Lib Dem)

"Definitely. Liberal Democrats have fully-costed proposals for an extra 10,000 police officers and 20,000 more Community Support Officers.

"That will mean about 100 extra offices on the streets of Swindon. We will pay for this by scrapping the Government's plan to charge individuals for compulsory ID cards."

John Williams (Ind)

"I am committed to a strong police force: higher numbers targeted on problem areas and the use of highly trained specialists will further help the fight against crime.

"At the same time we need to look more closely at the economic and social factors which in many cases are driving crime. I certainly do not believe that more prisons is the only answer; already we have the highest prison population in Europe."

Would the candidates give an assurance that the powers associated with a police constable would not be further extended to other non-sworn police staff, leading to a more confrontational roles?

Robert Buckland (Con)

"I agree that full powers should remain the preserve of qualified and trained police constables. The role of Community Support Officers is a useful one, but they should only complement, not replace, the role of police constables.

"Working in the criminal justice system, I well appreciate police concerns in this area."

Stephen Halden (UKIP)

"Police powers should not be extended. In fact recent legislation has attacked some of our basic human rights that we have enjoyed since King John signed the Magna Carta.

"UKIP will fight against the attempts to abolish trial by jury, fight against being imprisoned without trial and fight against being imprisoned without even knowing what the charges are."

Alan Hayward (Ind), left

"The police are worried about the introduction of not fully qualified and trained officers and would prefer any additional staff to be full constables."

Bill Hughes (Green)

"Constables should retain their existing powers and any auxiliary staff should be giving support but should not have the authority that the constables have at the moment.

"Greens are against the growth of vigilante groups and private security firms replacing normal policing."

Anne Snelgrove (Lab)

"Hard working police officers should be fully supported in the vital work they do.

"That is why the Government is committed to creating a new £340m a year fund to increase CSO numbers to 24,000, to support and work alongside the police and free their time for front line duties.

These new CSO roles will compliment the work of the police."

Sue Stebbing (Lib Dem)

"Yes. Support officers are an important back up for sworn police officers, they are not replacements and should not have the same powers.

"We will introduce Local Policing Contracts to give people a say in how they are policed and this dialogue will help to build trust between police and communities."

John Williams (Ind)

"All qualified professionals rely, across the board, on 'non-sworn' staff: the condition is that those staff have the required training in the particular task they are asked to carry out.

"A few days training is clearly not adequate for the confrontational role that seems to be envisaged by the current government."

Can we have an assurance that while certain aspects of bureaucracy are reduced they are not replaced by new and other forms of bureaucracy, and that the service will move to a realistic IT system that tracks criminals?

Robert Buckland (Con)

"As a barrister preparing cases, I have had to grapple with the bewildering array of computer systems and documents that are used by different police forces. I strongly support the introduction of a fully-integrated system that would have tracked Ian Huntley, for example.

"The Conservatives will reduce police bureaucracy and scrap paperwork such as the foot long, forty question form that now has to be filled in each time a police officer stops someone in the street."

Stephen Halden (UKIP)

"UKIP want to see less bureaucratic performance targets from government, and relieve the police of unnecessary paperwork.

"For example there is 20 minutes of paperwork every time the police carry out a stop and search.

"Even for a minor offence there is a mountain of paper work, and now 50 per cent of all young males have a criminal record. This is bureaucracy gone mad."

Alan Hayward (Ind)

"The police feel that they are swamped in red tape which is impeding them in doing their work.

"They would welcome less along with better tools to fight crime more effectively."

Bill Hughes (Green)

"I am in favour of modernising the IT system but the police do need more administrative back-up. The amount of form-filling should be reduced and all forms should use plain English."

Anne Snelgrove (Lab)

"The structure that supports the work of the police and criminal justice system needs to be as efficient as possible.

"That is why we are committed to increasing the use of electronic tagging and from 2007 every offender will be supervised after release.

"Our National Offender Management Service will ensure that every offender is individually case-managed from the beginning to end of their sentence, both in and out of custody."

Sue Stebbing (Lib Dem)

"Liberal Democrats are committed to cutting the bureaucratic burden on the police. We will equip them with modern technology, including hand held computers and voice recognition software so that they can spend more time catching criminals and less filling in forms.

"A fully-functional IT system is an essential part of the criminal justice system in the 21st century."

John Williams (Ind)

"I agree that a proper national IT tracking system is urgently required. This should not be confused with ID Cards, which I oppose.

"It may be that the courts could accept other forms of evidence than written statements and formal recordings video and portable voice recording equipment is available.

"Otherwise any reduction in the formal case-related bureaucracy is welcome.

"Like so many other areas of government, clear policies agreed in advance with legislation, where necessary, will remove the need for the constant flow of paperwork from Whitehall."

Do candidates support the premise that the role of an officer is at the core of British policing, and needs to be protected recognised and properly funded?

Robert Buckland (Con)

"I entirely endorse the principle outlined in this question. When we say more police, we mean precisely that more sworn police officers working in our communities."

Stephen Halden (UKIP)

"The core problem of British policing is that ordinary people have lost faith in the courts to protect them from criminals. The law does not seem to be on the side of the victims. UKIP would introduce a strong presumption of innocence for home owners, like farmer Tony Martin, in circumstances when they defend their homes against intruders."

Alan Hayward (Ind)

"There is not the funding available to be able to

provide any where near enough beat officers, which the police and the community both feel would make a large

difference to the crime levels in this country."

Bill Hughes (Green)

"Community policing should be at the heart of the police service. It is vital that communities work with police and that the police are not antagonistic to the population.

"Laws such as increasing licensing hours, which has increased the amount of binge drinking in the town centre and the resulting problems, should be reviewed."

Anne Snelgrove (Lab)

"I entirely agree and therefore welcome the Labour Government's continued commitment to investing in the police force.

The Government is further increasing the link between the police and local communities by creating neighbourhood policing teams.

We will also empower the public to fight back against crime."

Sue Stebbing (Lib Dem)

"Yes. The sight of uniformed police officers out and about does a great deal to reassure people and acts as a deterrent, particularly to anti-social behaviour.

"I am pleased we are moving back to a community policing. It builds relationships and encour-ages the flow of information that results in criminals being caught."

John Williams (Ind)

"Yes."

Do the candidates believe that cannabis should be reclassified from Class C to a Class B illegal substance? Current laws have led to confusion within the service and with the public and recent incidents have highlighted dangers associated with this drug.

Robert Buckland (Con)

"I support the re-classification of cannabis to from Class C to Class B. The Government has been sending out conflicting messages about this drug, which can have very harmful consequences for some users.

"As with all types of drug, it is right to target the dealers as a priority. A Conservative Government will increase the number of drug rehabilitation places from 25,000 to 250,000, so that people won't have to come before the courts to get help."

Stephen Halden (UKIP)

"Use of cannabis has been shown to cause schizophrenia in young users. UKIP believes in a policy of zero tolerance towards crime.

"Constable Robin Stannard is the Community Development Officer for Swindon, and when there is trouble brewing he can offer advice on how to defuse the situation and restore calm."

Alan Hayward (Ind)

"The police have concerns that relaxing the laws on cannabis have made it more acceptable to use what is probably a harmful drug.

"I need to speak with more policemen and women to understand if their take is similar, as well as the public and then I will be in a position to relate how and what should be done to improve the current situation."

Bill Hughes (Green)

"Greens would decriminalise cannabis and only intervene when users become anti-social as is the case with alcohol at the moment.

"We should concentrate on the rehabilitation of hard drug users and there should be more education and understanding. We should not drive the drug culture further underground with more punitive measures."

Anne Snelgrove (Lab)

"I am not in favour of the liberalisation of drugs such as cannabis. But we must ensure that police time and resources are spent on serious crimes.

"I am concerned that recent evidence points towards lasting health problems for cannabis users and would support calls for a review of reclassification."

Sue Stebbing (Lib Dem)

"My view on cannabis is that it is a potentially dangerous drug for many people and we should not do anything to encourage its recreational use. Liberal Democrats have supported the reclassification to Class C because we believe that precious police time should not be wasted on pursuing individuals who choose to use cannabis in the privacy of their own home. Rather, those resources should be targeted on catching the drug dealers and the users who resort to crime to pay for their habit."

John Williams (Ind)

"I am not happy with the current three classes. More emphasis needs to be placed on the dangers of 'recreational' drugs. Full stop. The medical use of many of these substances is a totally different question. The supply of all drugs outside medical use would be subject to the same penalties, irrespective of the current classification."