Police Merger Plans

THERE are only 2 weeks left for residents to have their say on the future of policing in Southend.
The Government’s police merger plans are a huge mistake says former Leigh and Southend West MP, Anna Firth.
A statement issued by Ms Firth said: “It is time to say an emphatic NO to policing in Southend being run from Norwich.
“On June 10, Roger Hirst, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) for Essex published a key consultation on the Government’s current plan to move away from Local Policing to huge regional Police Forces.
“This is a very important survey and it is vital we all have our say.
“In January, the Labour Government confirmed its intention to reform Policing by reducing the current 43 national Police forces to around 12 ‘mega’ regional Police forces.
“Essex Police would be merged with at least two neighbouring forces. For us, in Southend, this means our Police Force could be run from as far away as Norwich!
“Essex is one of the oldest, largest and most successful Police forces in England. Over 4,000 warranted Police officers serve nearly 2 million people and crime is relatively low because the Police understand the unique challenges facing our County. Why change a model that works?”
Should this proposal go ahead, Anna Firth, former MP for Southend West and Leigh, is very concerned that ‘for communities like Southend such a merger will lead to fewer investigations, fewer crimes being solved and fewer officers on our streets’.
Ms Firth believes that the evidence shows that trying to Police vast areas doesn’t work.
Ms Firth’s statement continued: “In Scotland, for example, where local Police forces were amalgamated just over a decade ago, ‘Police Scotland’ now suffers from deep financial deficits, falling public confidence, fewer Police officers and decreased community visibility.
“The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners for both England and Wales, has also issued a stark warning: ‘There is no evidence that larger ‘super-forces’ deliver better outcomes for victims, reduce crime more effectively, or make communities safer. Instead, it warns that mergers would be costly, disruptive and likely to weaken local accountability.’
“At a time when our City faces immense pressures, especially in relation to knife crime and ASB, these proposals would mean millions and millions of tax-payers money being wasted on re-structuring rather then fighting crime. Essex would no longer have its own Chief Constable or Police identity and senior officers would be diverted away from the front-line.
“The vital democratic link between the money we pay for the Police in our Council Tax and local Policing priorities would also be lost.
“Southend has unique challenges and we need our Police to be visible, responsive and 100% focused on our priorities. In policing, bigger is not always better. Local knowledge matters. Local accountability matters. Local trust matters.”
Ms Firth also believes that ‘Rather than wasting millions on a top-down reorganisation dreamed up in Whitehall, the Government should focus on giving Essex Police the resources it needs to keep our communities safe.’
Roger Hirst, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, is also concerned about how the Government’s reforms will impact Policing in Southend. He said: “The Government wants to radically change the way communities like Southend are policed in the future.
“Essex Police could be merged into a single force covering the entire eastern region. The risk is clear – the local connection between police officers and the communities they serve could be lost for good.
“I urge all residents to have their say by completing my survey on the proposed plan to merge police forces. Have your say here: https://www.essex.pfcc.police.uk/news/pfcc-invites-all-essex-residents-to-have-their-say-on-the-future-of-policing-in-essex.
“This is an opportunity to make it clear to the Government that a local approach to policing works best, not an overly centralised model that has no understanding of how best to tackle anti-social behaviour and crime in Southend.”
Ms Firth concluded: “It is so important that we all take this opportunity to send the Government and our two Labour MP’s a clear message – hands off our local Police”.
Picture: Anna Firth in Leigh with two local officers.
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