Police across England and Wales have been told that they no longer need to chase performance targets.

Home Secretary Theresa May announced the immediate abolition of the last remaining target, which was to increase public confidence in police.

Mrs May also axed the Policing Pledge, a 2008 New Labour innovation outlining the standards people can expect from their force.

Speaking at the Association of Chief Police Officers conference, she said: "I know that some officers like the Policing Pledge, and some, I'm sure, like the comfort of knowing they've ticked boxes.

"But targets don't fight crime. Targets hinder the fight against crime.

"In scrapping the confidence target and the policing pledge, I couldn't be any clearer about your mission: it isn't a 30-point plan; it is to cut crime. No more, and no less."