"Police Merger Plans in Total Disarray" says MP
12th July 2006
An attempt by the Government to rush through mergers of police forces to create 'super-sized' forces has ended in confusion and will do nothing but hinder the work of the Police.
At Prime Minister’s Question Time today, David Cameron accused the PM of “wasting Police time” over the proposed mergers of police forces.
Here in Hertfordshire, the Government wants our police to merge with Essex and Bedfordshire. However, in the face of opposition from most of the police forces involved, it appears the enforced mergers will not now go ahead. Instead police forces are being encouraged to work more closely together.
Mike Penning said:
“The Police Service is one area where a large centralised bureaucracy is far removed from what local people want. We want to have control of our police locally as that is the best way to deal with local problems. This was a rushed and ill-thought out policy and I am pleased that the Government are apparently making a U-turn on the issue to give it more consideration.”
“Right from the start there has been a lack of consultation on this issue and MPs are now calling for the Home Secretary to make a statement to the House of Commons to explain exactly what is going on,” he added.
