MP JEREMY Hunt has pledged to back a Conservative scheme aimed at placing more police officers on the beat. The suggestions, published by the Conservatives' Police Reform Task Force, are supported by David Cameron and are likely to feature in the party's manifesto. Under the proposals - described by Mr Hunt as a "radical solution to policing" - directly elected police commissioners would be in place, held accountable to their public. Mirroring the sheriff system seen in America, whereby the highest law enforcement officer of a county is elected, the proposals would spell the end of unelected police authorities. "What we want to do is scrap Home Office targets and for people in Surrey to elect a police commissioner and then for police to report to that elected official," he explained. "Bob Quick, the chief constable of Surrey currently has his hands tied by the incredible bureaucracy in place. "Instead of police forces meeting Home Office targets, what we want is much more local flexibility. Mr Quick thinks that a lot of paperwork could be done by civilian employees, rather than by policemen, and this will allow more bobbies on the beat." "I know there is a lot of concern in Farnham and Haslemere about the lack of policing at the weekends. "And I think these proposals have the power to transform policing, making it more locally focused and not hampered by paperwork," he added.