This week we have the next announcement about potential policing changes in the consultation paper on police reform.

It includes proposals for a new national crime agency to include a border policing service and the current Serious Organised Crime Agency.

There's talk of it being like a British FBI. That assumes the FBI is something we aspire to.

I'm all for improvement and taking lessons from anywhere that has good ideas but I find the endless comparison with USA and adoption of their practices (and culture?) a bit worrying.

I am sure there are even more compelling parallels with some European 'federal' police organisations but it seems we always look across the Atlantic first.

I am off to Spain on holiday soon so dependent on any contact I might have with police there I may change my view on this!

If you add public spending cuts into the mix of change then that means change here too. The Constabulary is changing the way we deliver some support functions and I am overseeing some work in the City on operational policing changes.

I have always resisted change just for the sake of it especially when, as here, we have been performing well (14% reduction in crime last year for example). However, there are times when it is right for a significant review and new ways to work to achieve even better policing for the City and this is one of those moments.

I can't imagine a time in the near future when we wont want teams of officers briefing and deploying to respond to calls whilst others come in to investigate more serious crime and others spend their time delivering neighbourhood engagement and crime investigation.

All these functions will always rely on good police staff support. However, how we do these functions, from how many sites and working what hours could all be different.

But it can't just be about shifting around the work and people, it's got to be about better ways to work and better ways to manage and reduce the demand we face whilst improving our contact with the public and providing the best service we can. That means there are also vital partnership and community aspects to the changes we need to make.

I will make sure that I and my management team keep on being in touch with frontline officers and staff so we are aware of what matters and what makes things work well. The best way to keep in touch is to spend time with people including on patrol. Saturday night when I spent some time walking round Millbrook was one such chance for me to do that and I was really encouraged by the experience and I felt better informed for doing it.

If you've got things to say about policing in Southampton then please let us know. You can contact your local neighbourhood team or use the 'Your Voice Counts' link both through this link http://www.hampshire.police.uk/Internet/localpolicing/southampton/ or comment on this blog (but forgive me if any reply is delayed whilst I am away!). According to the consultation paper, by 2012 you will have an elected Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight holding the Chief Cinstable to account for what we do or don't do.

Even if that person does come into being the best contact is the local contact and we'll keep doing more of that. The neighbourhood officer I was with on Saturday does it every day in her work.