It is difficult to square last week’s announcement of the first tranche of 13,000 extra neighbourhood police, across England and Wales, with the threat of job cuts that also looms over the 43 forces. As in other public services, there is a risk that launching new projects at a time of overstretched budgets will shift resources rather than increase capacity. That said, an approach to policing that stresses local connectedness has had good results in the past. Labour is right to follow through on its manifesto pledge on neighbourhood teams, but delivery alone is not a substitute for strategy.

Recent rises in shoplifting and robbery offences have alarmed sections of the public as well as businesses. The Greater Manchester scheme, which the prime minister cites as a model, has had

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