Police officers could soon be asked to deal with noise nuisance – a job traditionally in the remit of local councils

POLICE officers could soon be asked to deal with noise nuisance – a job traditionally in the remit of local councils.

The idea was raised in the Government’s so-called ‘levelling up’ plan, which was announced today by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove.

The ‘restoring local pride’ section of the report states: “Police officers will also gain the power to deal with noise nuisance.”

However, South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Steve Kent said “sadly policing over the years has already become the only organisation who can’t say no to dealing with what is often in effect issues that are responsibility of other agencies.”

Steve added: “I sympathise with local authorities who have endured cuts as well as ourselves, but we cannot continue to maintain what we do as well as taking on additional responsibilities outside of what Policing should be about.

“We have already seen that Policing does and is expected to support our overburdened colleagues in the NHS and social services sector. Are we now going to be dealing with noise complaints and low level neighbour disputes as well?

“The public really needs to ask themselves what they want from the Police? If crime and protecting the vulnerable is our priority then we should be left to focus on exactly that.”

See the full report here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-unveils-levelling-up-plan-that-will-transform-uk