Police authority merger 'likely to cost £20m'

11.11.00pm GMT Sat 20th Feb 2010

The proposed merger of the two authorities would cost £20 million

Henry Vann has uncovered figures in a recent parliamentary report suggesting that the proposed merger of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Police Authority is 'likely to cost £20m'.

The report also branded the government's 'merger exploration fund' of £500,000 a 'drop in the ocean' compared to the actual £20m costs of a merger.

Henry, who is the Parliamentary Campaigner for the Liberal Democrats in Bedford and Kempston, is opposing the plan, arguing that local policing could suffer if resources are focused further south and key decisions are taken remotely in a force covering a much wider area.

Henry, who drew attention to the original bid for the merger fund, said:

"Not only are there plans afoot to move our police authority even further away from Bedford and Kempston, but we are now told that this could cost us £20 million. This is unacceptable, and these plans must be stopped."

"What was originally meant to be collaborative work is now leading down the path to a full merger, moving police further and further away from Bedford and Kempston.

"The Police Officers do a fantastic job fighting crime in Bedford, but our police are underfunded and constantly sidelined by the Labour Government. Local policing is vital, and moving the police authorities away from the focus on Bedfordshire would be severely damaging."

Speaking about Liberal Democrat national priorities, Henry added:

"That is why the Liberal Democrats have pledged an extra 3,000 police officers nationally, paid for by scrapping ID Cards, and we would also put more police on the streets using technology and support staff to enable police to be out on patrol more often."

Related Link:

The parliamentary report, published on January 26th, can be found here.