To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the process of negotiation is between his Department and local police forces in the setting of local policing targets in relation to Home Office Public Service Agreement 1. [109589]

The Police Reform Act 2002 requires all police authorities to prepare and publish three-year strategic plans which are consistent with the national policing plan in force at that time. All police authorities have now submitted their strategic plans (exceptionally covering only two years, 2003–05, to bring them into line with crime and disorder reduction partnership strategies). Evaluation of these plans for consistency with the national policing plan is underway and particular attention is being given to the Public Service Agreement 1 (PSA) targets.