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Press
& Publicity
Friday 31 March 2006 - HPA213
OUTSTANDING CONCERNS FORCES AUTHORITY TO REJECT POLICE MERGER PROPOSALS
Fears over funding and governance of any new Strategic Police Force were two of the concerns that today (Friday) led to the Police Authority rejecting Home Office proposals to merge Hertfordshire Constabulary with Bedfordshire and Essex Forces.
Chairman of Hertfordshire Police Authority, Ian Laidlaw-Dickson, said: “This was a very difficult decision for the Authority to make and in deciding not to merge, we recognise that the Home Secretary is now likely to proceed with an order for a compulsory merger, but members felt there were too many unanswered questions and too little public debate on critical issues to make a commitment today.
“A letter from the Director General, Moira Wallace, received yesterday, proposed 100% Government funding to cover the costs of restructure, but the figures they are quoting fall far short of what we believe to be the true costs. We also have concerns about local accountability. Hertfordshire must have sufficient representation on any new Strategic Police Authority and Council Tax payers should not have to foot the restructuring bill.”
The meeting followed detailed discussions earlier in the day between members, the Chief Constable and representatives of the Home Office and Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary (HMIC), who put their case to the Authority for a voluntary merger. Members remained unconvinced about arguments put forward and there were too many outstanding issues to give their support at this time.
Ian said: “We still have the option to submit a voluntary merger before the Compulsory Order goes through Parliament. We will now be actively seeking to discuss our concerns with the Home Office and HMIC. The delay will also enable us to open up a debate more fully with the public and our stakeholders and to meet with colleagues in Bedfordshire and Essex Police Authorities to discuss a way forward.”
The Authority made its decision on a 10:5 vote, deciding not to take the Chief Constable’s recommendation to agree to a voluntary merger today. Chief Constable Frank Whiteley said: "In light of national developments and the financial circumstances now faced by the Constabulary, my professional advice to the Authority is that merger with Essex and Bedfordshire is both inevitable and in the best interests of the policing of Hertfordshire.
"In my view, seeking voluntary amalgamation would have given Hertfordshire greater negotiating power with the Home Office to deal with the legitimate concerns raised by Police Authority members. Clearly, this matter is not yet finalised and whilst it is being finalised my staff and I will continue to focus on delivering the best possible services we can during the forthcoming policing year."
The Authority will now write to the Home Secretary with its decision and outlining its concerns.
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