Friday 19 May 2006 - HPA214

POLICE FORCE MERGERS - WE WANT YOUR VIEWS

Hertfordshire Police Authority wants to know what the public thinks about the Home Secretary’s proposals for a compulsory merger of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Essex Police Forces.

Chairman of Hertfordshire Police Authority, Ian Laidlaw-Dickson, said: “The Authority has already said no to the original request for Hertfordshire to merge voluntarily with Bedfordshire and Essex because there were too many important unanswered questions. The Home Secretary has now given notice of his intention to make the merger compulsory.”

Local councils and police authorities have been given until 11 August 2006 to raise any objections with the Home Office on the merger proposals.

“The process so far has not provided sufficient time for a proper public debate on these critical issues. We are now launching a seven week consultation campaign on the proposals to find out the views of the public and our stakeholders about what is important to them,” said Ian.

Advertisements will appear across the county and people will be able to respond using the Freepost Address (Hertfordshire Police Authority, FREEPOST ANG 6281, Hertford, SG13 8YS), by email (survey.hpa@herts.pnn.police.uk) or online at www.herts-police-authority.org.uk

Feedback from the consultation will be considered by the Police Authority when it meets on 21 July to agree its response to the Home Secretary.

Herts Beat 2007
Central Area

Herts Beat 2007
Western Area