Mahmood to call for more police patrols and faster responses to 999 calls

Police officers in England and Wales would spend more time on the streets under sweeping reform plans to be outlined on Monday.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will pledge to cut “red tape” and “unnecessary admin” that she says prevents officers from leaving their stations.

She will also promise faster response times for emergencies by setting a national standard for 999 calls.

Mahmood said: “People are reporting crimes and then waiting hours or even days for a response.”

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said “it’s hard to take Labour’s promises seriously when they have stripped more than 1,300 officers from the front line in our communities”.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Max Wilkinson said the government “must deliver” on its promises and “get more officers back onto our…