Government proposals to allow the public to patrol with officers have been derided as “nonsense” by the Devon and Cornwall Police Federation.

The move was floated earlier this week as the Government ushered in a raft of plans to cut red tape in policing and to increase accountability through the introduction of elected police commissioners.

“Across the country, we want to support more active citizens,” the Home Office report said, “taking part in joint patrols with the police, looking out for their neighbours and passing on safety tips as part of Neighbourhood Watch groups or as community crime fighters.”

The prospect of going on foot patrol accompanied by members of the public immediately caused alarm at the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers. Sergeant Nigel Rabbitts, (CORR) chairman of the federation in Devon and Cornwall, said it was “nonsense” and questioned how officers could work effectively if they were expected to “look after” the people accompanying them.

He said they supported the ambition to increase the strength of the Special Constabulary, which stands at around 560 volunteers in Devon and Cornwall, but warned they could not be used to replace full-time officers.

“What we are opposed to is the use of free labour to try to reduce officer numbers,” Sgt Rabbitts said: “They’re never going to be as trained as full-time officers or have the experience. There’s no policing on the cheap.”

While laudable, he said Home Secretary Theresa May’s plan to cut red tape was mere “rhetoric”.

“We fully support the drive to reduce bureaucracy but at the end of the day we’ve got a criminal justice system which requires evidence in written form which means there’ll always be paperwork,” he added.

The Home Office report – Policing in the 21st Century: Reconnecting Police and the People – was billed as “the most radical reform to policing in at least 50 years”. Ms May said: “For too long, people have been faced with crime levels that are too high and a police service that’s been too focused on Whitehall targets to really get to grips with what matters locally. I’m starting an ambitious programme of reform for policing in the 21st century. At the strategic level, this includes a new National Crime Agency to strengthen the fight against organised crime and toughen policing at the border. On a local level, it will put local people at the heart of policing by giving them the power to elect Police and Crime Commissioners.

“I’m also setting out how we’ll ensure police forces work more efficiently to strengthen the fight against crime while providing taxpayers with better value for money.”

Chief among the concerns are plans for directly elected commissioners and the cost implications. Elections for the posts are expected inMay 2012. Eyebrows were also raised at proposals to make raising the police precept – part of council tax bills – subject to a referendum. Mike Bull, the chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Police Authority which will be scrapped, described some of the arguments as “bizarre”.