Essex's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner writes letter opposing policing reforms
The letter calls on the government to "reconsider its police reform agenda"
Essex's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has written a letter to Lord Bernard Hogan-Howe, voicing opposition to the government's plans to reform policing.
The letter, addressed to the leader of the Independent Review of Police Force Structures, contains details from a survey conducted by Roger Hirst MBE, which had over 1,700 responses from Essex residents.
The findings say that 69% of respondents oppose merging police forces into larger regional constabularies.
85% of respondents said that they want local policing to "remain locally led."
Roger Hirst writes that "A clear verdict can be drawn from the responses to the survey. There is a deep public concern and opposition in Essex to the suggestion that the existing local approach to policing could be taken over by a larger regional entity."
"The Government must now reconsider its police reform agenda. It should favour a far more local approach that is complemented by a national framework that better phases in structural reforms, best practice on standards and performance, and works to strengthen confidence in policing."
In interview with Greatest Hits Radio Essex News, Roger Hirst said:
"I absolutely recognise that there are aspects of policing that really do need improving.
"I'm not sure a merger of forces is the solution to all of that.
"We have the size, we have the scale. We're doing a really good job. I'm not quite sure why we need to merge."
A Home Office spokesperson said:
“The number of neighbourhood police officers has increased by 22% in just twelve months, and every area now has a named, contactable officer focused on local priorities.
“We will continue working closely with policing partners to deliver the right model for local policing.”
Lord Bernard Hogan-Howe has been contacted for comment.