APA opposes voluntary mergers as members raise restructuring concerns

The Association of Police Authorities has advised its members not to proceed with any ‘voluntary mergers’ put forward under the service restructuring process, and have called for a further extension to the consultation process, following concerns over the financing and lack of debate regarding proposals to amalgamate forces.

Speaking at the APA’s annual conference in Belfast last week, Association Chair Bob Jones called on the Government to allow more time for consultation over the restructuring plans, to ensure that local communities had the time to engage in the debate about the future of their forces.

“The Government must give partners and stakeholders an opportunity to influence the decision-making process, and allow for a full democratic parliamentary debate,” said Mr Jones.

“We also want to know who will foot the bill. We are confident the Home Secretary will want to listen to and act on the concerns which police authority members have quite legitimately expressed today.

“We are pleased that the Home Secretary has already agreed to the APA’s request to relax the deadline for the next stage of the Police Structure Review submissions, which gave only three weeks to consult communities, and has said he is willing to consider all options put forward in December.”

The decision was described as “the strongest possible mess-age to the Government” by Cleveland Police Authority Chair Dave McLuckie, whose own authority’s disagreement with neighbouring Durham Constabulary over merger options has developed into one of the bitterest rows surrounding the restructuring process.

While the Home Office has only shortlisted one option for the north east – a combined force incorporating Northumbria, Cleveland and Durham – Cleve-land Police Authority has continued to push for a Tees Valley regional force, a move which has attracted strong criticism from Durham’s Acting Chief Constable, John Stoddart (see P11 for full story).

Speaking at the APA Conference, Mr McLuckie said the decision by police authorities showed that they would not “be forced into proposals which have not been properly thought-out, properly costed – and which are strongly opposed by local communities”.

“The decision taken at the conference is a very significant development which demonstrates the strength of feeling which has now developed nationwide,” said Mr McLuckie. “What it means is that there will be no authorities volunteering to merge with other forces whilst so many doubts remain over the implications of the review – for example how much it will cost, who will pay the bill and how the huge ‘superforces’ envisaged in some quarters could be made properly accountable to local people.”

The review proposals were expected to come under further scrutiny this week, during a Parliamentary debate due to take place at Westminster Hall on Tuesday, initiated by Stockton North MP Frank Cook. A Commons Motion tabled by Mr Cook has already gained all-party support.

“I have no doubt that, after her visit to conference and her meeting with authority representatives, the Home Office Minister Hazel Blears will be telling her Government colleagues that this is an issue on which we are completely deter-mined to defend the principles of local consent, support and accountability which have been the foundations of the British police service for so many years,” added Mr McLuckie.

“I am sure the message will again be reinforced during the debate initiated by MP Frank Cook. All our local MPs have made clear their support for the Tees Valley City Region option and their rejection of the idea of a single north east force stretching from the Scottish Border to the North Yorkshire Moors.

“I hope that MPs from the many other parts of the country where there is strong opposition to the way in which the review has been handled so far will take the opportunity of the debate to support their local police authorities and forces.”

Bob Jones also called on the Government to ensure that there was “a connected approach to policing”; stressing the imp-ortance of