Gloucestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner has welcomed the Government's 'Beating Crime Plan', which he says will give police 'more weapons in our arsenal'.

PCC Chris Nelson said the new plan, launched by the Prime Minister, supports commitments he made to drive down crime in Gloucestershire and will be included in his Police and Crime Plan.

A successful trial in Gloucestershire of electronic monitoring ('tagging') for serious prolific offenders is to be expanded to a further 13 police force areas.

Among other proposals are better digital contact with the police, improving the 101 and 999 services.

It also proposes permanently relaxing conditions on police as to when they can use section 60 'stop and search' powers. It says this will help police take more knives off the streets and prevent serious violence.

Another measure is a trial use of alcohol tags - which detect alcohol in the sweat of offenders guilty of drink-fuelled crime.

Mr Nelson said: "It's encouraging to see the measures contained in the Beating Crime Plan chime so strongly with the issues that Gloucestershire residents have told me they are most worried about. My Police and Crime Plan will outline how we will take local action to make our County safer, and these new measures announced by the Government will give us more weapons in our arsenal.

"It shows how, by working together, we can tackle persistent offenders, drive down anti-social behaviour and give the law-abiding majority the respect and support they need if they become a victim of crime.

"No-where is that respect more important than in ensuring people can effectively contact the police in a way which works for them. The problems with the 101 service in Gloucestershire are well-known and I hope that having Government support will help us fix this vital link between our communities and the police."

The national plan states it will ensure everybody has access to the police digitally through the police.uk platform.

It aims to improve the effectiveness of both the 101 and 999 service, by working with the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to develop league tables for answering calls.

Other areas which Mr Nelson hopes to highlight in his Police and Crime Plan include taking a 'zero-tolerance approach' to anti-social behaviour; tackling issues including dog theft, rural crime, violence against women and girls; and the recruitment of 300 police officers and staff.