‘Phone a bobby’ crime initiative

Homeowners will be sent a phone number for their local beat bobby under a new anti-crime initiative.

Residents will also be given a say over which issues are tackled by their police officer under the plan to be unveiled by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.

Households will get details of the officer dealing with crime in their area and a direct number and email address. The scheme, which will be introduced by April, follows a series of pilot projects.

Each police team will concentrate on a handful of streets and work with residents to tackle the crimes they most fear. The hotlines will also allow people to report vandalism, graffiti and suspicious characters.

Ms Smith wants the Neighbourhood Policing Programme to help householders get to know their local coppers and work with them to tackle yobs.

Alan Gordon, vice-chairman of the Police Federation, said: “We have reservations about the publication of individual mobile phone numbers. We would prefer the contact to be via local police stations… which would prevent misuse and prank calls. People will still be urged to ring 999 for emergencies and to report serious crimes.