Kent and Essex set up joint Serious Crime Directorate
Essex and Kent Police have set up a joint Serious Crime Directorate,
forming one of the largest divisions of its kind in the country, with
more than 1,100 personnel from both forces.
Essex and Kent Police have set up a joint Serious Crime Directorate, forming one of the largest divisions of its kind in the country, with more than 1,100 personnel from both forces.
The joint command will provide enhanced resources and geographical capacity to target and tackle serious criminality in the south and east of England.
The Serious Crime Directorate will have a 24/7 intelligence capability, greater and more flexible surveillance and operational investigative capacity, creating a more resilient service.
The directorate will be made up of more than 1,100 officers working across six departments: intelligence, major crime, serious and organised crime, forensics and two covert support departments.
At the beginning of this year, both Kent and Essex police authorities confirmed proposals to join serious crime operations, subject to full consultation.
Both forces are also facing significant financial pressures; working together in this way the forces hope to provide better protection to the community at a more viable cost.
Together with the formal announcement that the directorate will be established, the police authorities appointed Assistant Chief Constable Alan Pughsley to lead the new directorate with the support of Detective Chief Superintendent Gareth Wilson.
Mr Pughsley said he is hugely excited and privileged to have been given this unique opportunity.
The directorate allows us to work together and share resources in a way that will benefit greatly the public of Kent and Essex. It will enhance our capacity and capability to continue to tackle serious organised crime across both counties and to target those who cause most harm in our communities.
The chief executive of Kent Police Authority, Mark Gilmartin, said: Weve now got the people and equipment to rival the very best and biggest police forces in the country. This is a hugely significant development for our two police authorities and forces and will deliver real benefits to both our communities.
Robert Chambers, chair of Essex Police Authority, welcomed the agreement to progress the proposal as it was another example of how the people of both Essex and Kent will receive an enhanced service with better value for money through collaboration.
I believe that, by joining forces to tackle serious and organised crime, we will provide an even more efficient service and make our two counties even safer by bringing to justice those responsible.
The formation of the Serious Crime Directorate is subject to full consultation with the staff and officers involved, UNISON, the Superintendents Association, Police Federation, and other stakeholders. No decisions about staffing structures for each department have been made.