Norfolk and Suffolk Police Federations say many questions remain over merger suggestion
The Police Federation chairs have commented after the the two local Police and Crime Commissioners' letter to the Home Secretary requesting a single Police Force serving both counties.
Police officers, staff and local communities must remain at the heart of any changes that take place - as Suffolk and Norfolk Police discuss a potential force merger.
That's the message from Suffolk and Norfolk Police Federations - the organisations representing officers in the two counties - following the two local Police and Crime Commissioners' letter to the Home Secretary requesting a single Police Force serving both counties.
Both Federation chairs say they recognise that the existing collaborative arrangements between the forces provide a foundation for developing a new organisation and welcome the opportunity to explore a single constabulary.
However, they insist they are clear that the announcement is only the beginning of a much bigger process, with significant detail still to be worked through and many questions yet to be answered.
Darren Harris, Chair of Suffolk Police Federation, said: “There is a lot of uncertainty for officers and staff on the ground. We recognise the potential opportunities, but there are also many questions that need answering.
“Our responsibility and key priority is to make sure our members are properly represented and involved as these plans develop."
Darren said that areas requiring further clarity include shift patterns, CID, control room arrangements, response policing, local policing structures, working locations and the protection of existing terms and conditions.
He continued: “Around a third of the workforce already operates within joint arrangements, meaning there is an established level of integration between the two organisations. However, the impact of any further changes must be properly understood, particularly for those working in operational roles.”
The proposed £22 million in savings is a significant part of the announcement, but the Federations say they want to understand exactly how this figure has been calculated and where those savings will come from.
Andy Symonds, Chair of Norfolk Police Federation, said: “£22 million is a significant figure, but we need to see the detail behind it. Where is that money being saved? How will those savings be achieved, and what will the implementation costs be?
“Any efficiencies achieved should be reinvested into policing, providing tangible benefits for not only our officers but for the communities they serve.
“We need transparency so that our members and the public can understand what is being proposed."
Both Chairs say they recognise that a merger could provide opportunities to remove duplication, streamline services and improve operational resilience.
Andy said that the ambition must be to deliver a better service, with more officers available on the frontline, better resources and improved operational support.
He continued: “Local policing areas and neighbourhood arrangements must remain central to the new organisation, ensuring communities continue to have access to officers who understand their needs.
“Ultimately, the success of the merger should be measured by whether it delivers better policing and ensures that officers are available to support one another and respond effectively when communities need them.”
They also have important questions about how a Norfolk and Suffolk merger would fit into the Government's wider programme of policing reform and the proposed National Police Service.
Both counties have significant involvement in regional policing arrangements, including the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) encompassing Counter terrorism Policing (CTP).
The Federations say they want clarity about how these arrangements will operate in the future and whether existing responsibilities and resources could be affected by the wider national changes.
Darren added: “There needs to be an understanding of the lessons learned from previous changes to joint arrangements between the two forces, particularly where collaborative services have since been separated.”
Both Federations have committed to engaging constructively with the Police and Crime Commissioners, Chief Constables and Government as the proposals develop.
“This is the first step. As the proposals progress, we intend to establish strategic discussions to ensure that the interests and concerns of members are represented from the outset,” said Darren.
He added: “We also recognise that the proposed 2028 implementation date is ambitious, and that sufficient time must be allowed to work through the operational, financial and workforce implications
“To ensure trust and confidence from both our members and the public, we want to see greater transparency from the outset, with clear information shared as plans develop.”
Andy concluded: “We recognise the potential opportunities a single Norfolk and Suffolk Constabulary could bring, but the detail matters. But any merger must protect the workforce, strengthen frontline policing and deliver genuine benefits for the communities of Norfolk and Suffolk.”