The Liberal Democrats have set out plans for widespread policing reforms designed to free up frontline resources.

Home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said he wanted officers to concentrate on local community work rather than national issues or bureaucracy.

The party proposed that three new specialist forces be created in order to tackle national and international crime, border policing and financial offences.

Oaten argued that by taking these issues out of the hands of local police authorities crime would be cut and officers would be able to spend more time on the beat.

In a further bid to reduce the time consuming impact of paperwork the Lib Dems also floated the idea of inviting near-retirement or retired officers to man station desks while younger recruits spend more time on the streets.

"This would simultaneously boost frontline numbers while retaining the experience and knowledge of older police officers within forces," the party said.

And Oaten also wants to see "minimum policing guarantees" between communities and chief constables that set standards at ground level and devolve control away from Whitehall.

He contrasted his position with the Conservatives' penal policy plans to make offenders serve more of their sentences.

"The Liberal Democrats have put forward detailed plans for police reform. Our proposals will make a serious and substantial difference to the way we tackle crime in this country," he said.

"Michael Howard's plans to build more prisons will simply not tackle crime, and will only add to the number of people who re-offend and to the UK's already record prison numbers. 

"We need substance, not soundbites if we are to really tackle crime in this country."

Lib Dem police spokesman David Heath added that the plans would increase public confidence in and control over forces.

He said the party aimed to "ensure that no matter where we live, be it inner city, suburb or rural England and Wales, we have the protection of a visible, responsive and successful police force".