PCC fears impact of policing overhaul on local forces
Philip Wilkinson is worried new police reform could come at the detriment of efforts in our communities
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon has raised concerns over the future of local policing following the Government's Policing Reform White Paper.
On Monday, the Home Secretary revealed overhaul plans for policing in the UK, which include merging forces and creating a National Policing Service.
PCC Philip Wilkinson told Greatest Hits Radio that he supports part of the plans, but has reservation about other sectors.
He believes standardising equipment to allow more effective communication between Forces is a positive step, although he highlighted that it's already something the five South West constabularies have been working hard on already.
He's concerned that governance of policing is being elevated to the Government.
Local policing could suffer
Mr Wilkinson warned that local policing could suffer as a result of these plans, which he says have little upfront funding to deliver them.
"There is no plan to deliver this. There is no sequencing. There is no phasing. There is no allocation of resources to it. This is all supposed to happen without any additional money," he said.
While he admitted that there could be long-term cost saving, the PCC said real reform requires "upfront funding" and that it's going to lead to a nightmare.
"This is going to lead, unfortunately, to an unholy muddle in which the performance of all police forces will degenerate," he said.
Mr Wilkinson fears that much needed funding for local police efforts could be drawn up to support national level reform, compromising efforts of officers on our streets.
National policing mustn't undermine local work
The PCC stressed the need for criminality to be tackled on a national and international level, but said that local police deal with the "ends of the tentacles".
He said efforts to combat criminals on the broadest scale must not come at the expense of work being done to tackle crime within our communities, which can be connected to wider criminal networks.
Mr Wilkinson said: "A lot of the crimes that we suffer from at a local level will emanate from Eastern Europe, from African countries, as much as from this country.
"We need that to be addressed, but not at the expense of local policing, not at the expense of anti-social behaviour and speeding, shoplifting, you know, rural crime, hair coursing, these are very real issues."
Local voices lost
The PCC also warned of a void where local people's concerns won't be heard by decision makers.
His role is being abolished in 2028. The PCC's position holds the Chief Constable to account to ensure a robust service is being delivered, and to also canvas the concerns of people in a Force's area to implement a service that meets the needs and worries of local people.
He's concerned that the absence of the role, and shifting power to the Government could remove local accountability and stop concerns being heard.
Mr Wilkinson said the Government had failed to consult PCC's and Chief Constable's on the changes, questioning whether senior leaders have properly considered how these changes will affect policing locally.