Richard Walton

Boris Johnson's pledge to fund an extra 20,000 police officers was a serious sign of intent, a game-changing moment for policing and a huge boost for law and order on Britain’s streets. But how can these new officers quickly reverse the spike in knife and violent crime that has plagued Britain? There are six pressing challenges that the new Home Secretary Priti Patel needs to address if she is to succeed in her strategy to crack down on crime: increasing crime levels, greater demands and reduced budgets for police; decline in neighbourhood officers; new national security threats; a disempowered police workforce and a policing model outpaced by technology. It is clear that neighbourhood policing is where the vast bulk of the new resources need to be focused.

The High Court yesterday rejected a challenge over the Government's decision to share evidence with the US about two alleged members of the Isis Beatles, El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey. Crucially, ministers had provided this evidence without seeking assurances that the pair will not face the death penalty. The judgement by the Lord Chief Justice in this judicial review is important and will be welcomed with relief by the detectives working on the case at the counter terrorism command at Scotland Yard, the CPS lawyers and ministers at the Home Office. Had the Government lost, the Home Secretary’s decision not to seek assurances on the death penalty from the US would have handed a propaganda victory to Islamic State.