Harriett Baldwin this week spent time with her local police representative to reassure the local force that reforms will help them reduce bureaucracy and give them more time on the beat. Harriett’s statement followed a series of policy announcements by the Home Office securing operational independence for the police. Home Secretary Teresa May made a speech last week outlining plans to help police reduce bureaucracy and remove targets. Harriett said: “I have had correspondence from local police regarding reforms currently being discussed in Parliament, as well as the Winsor report on overtime payments and the Hutton report on pensions.” “I have passed on the message to them that the aim of the Government is to help police by having only one target – to cut crime. In the current budget climate, I appreciate how well West Mercia Police are delivering more for less. “I think it is important to reduce the amount of form-filling which each officer has to deal with and to make sure that as much time as possible is spent preventing crime and disorder. “I welcomed the opportunity to talk to the representative of the local police last week and I hope this is part of a dialogue to make sure that these reforms are as effective as possible.”