Police bosses say reform could help smaller forces like Gloucestershire
Maggie Blyth and Chris Nelson have responded to a recent inspection of Gloucestershire Constabulary
Police reform could help smaller forces such as Gloucestershire Constabulary, which face major challenges because of financial pressures, according to the force's temporary chief constable and the county's Police and Crime Commissioner.
Temporary chief constable Maggie Blyth and Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson have spoken about a recent inspection of the force.
Blyth told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she is a big supporter of police reform.
She also explained how budget pressures have a disproportionate impact on smaller forces such as Gloucestershire.
What the inspection found
His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) most recent visit to the county found the force's performance has declined in many areas.
The investigation of crime, as well as leadership at the force, was found to be inadequate.
Managing fraud, safeguarding people, responding to the public, preventing crime and developing a diverse workforce need improvement, according to inspectors.
Blyth said she is really confident the overhaul put in place over the last two years puts the constabulary in a good place to improve.
She said the inspection report is "a moment in time" that shows the "bleak reality" of what she has faced over the last two years.
Plans to reduce the number of forces
The Home Office is looking at significantly reducing the number of police forces by merging the existing 43 into larger regional areas.
An independent review will propose the best way to organise these new larger forces and what the new geographies could be.
Blyth said the force is expecting an announcement on police reform at the end of November.
She said: "We expect there to be the creation of regional forces, and a national police service, but with a real focus on the local, so we would expect local policing to stay the same in Gloucestershire."
"But some of what we have to pay for and do as a small police force like ICT, like kit, fleet, all of that, would be done by a national police service in the future.
"And that makes sense, financially, rather than doing it 43 times, and in some cases like us, just not being able to afford to do it properly, you'd have it done nationally but you can focus on the job at local level."
Funding pressures
Blyth said budget pressures have forced the constabulary to take an average of £14.5m out of the organisation over the last three years.
While the force is requesting additional funding support, she also wants recognition that as a small police force it does not have some of the specialist capability larger forces have.
"That's why I've been a big supporter of police reform," she said.
"I have brilliant officers and staff who are really there for the people of Gloucestershire. I really want to assure our public our officers will be there and will respond.
"But, I also think, just like the NHS and schools, we need to value our police officers and police staff.
"We need to give them the resources that are needed.
"They are always first on scene. They always turn up. They always do the job."
Blyth explained that further investment in technology will help, and the force is requesting more funding from the Government.
"We're just beginning to get some serious conversations with the Home Office now about that, which is really reassuring," she said.
"But, I'm very confident that the plans that are in place see us moving forward, with my officers and staff getting the support they need, but this inspection report, a moment in time, shows the bleak reality of what I've faced over the last two years."
Police and Crime Commissioner's view
Nelson also believes police need reforming and better investment.
"We are one of the smallest forces of the 43 and shortages of money in a small force are often felt much more acutely than in larger forces," he said.
"In police reform, Maggie Blyth has often been of the view that we need to be larger so that we have greater operational and financial resilience.
"There is a lot of truth in that. It doesn't mean merger without thought at any cost.
"They have to be done in the right way and I'm waiting to see what the Government announcements are going to be on mergers."