VICTORY FOR LOCAL POLICING

The expensive and unwanted reorganisation of our local police force has been averted.

The Conservatives at Somerset County Council have welcomed the news that the planned mergers of police forces will not go ahead.

“The Conservatives at Somerset County Council have supported Avon & Somerset Constabulary since the beginning,” said Christopher Wolverson, Leader of the Conservative Group. “We have consistently argued that the Force has the critical mass to deliver the services we need. We are proud of our Police and pleased that our support has been vindicated by this decision”.

“When we tried to unite the political will of the County Council behind our Police Force, the Liberal Democrats and Labour snubbed the move and said that “the status-quo of Avon and Somerset Constabulary as a stand-alone force is no longer appropriate for the people of Somerset”. I hope they have changed their minds,” Christopher Wolverson added.

Alan Ham, Somerset County Council Conservative Spokesman on Police, said “I am delighted that this proposal is not going ahead in the South West, so allowing Avon & Somerset Constabulary to continue their excellent work against crime and disorder and ensuring our communities feel safe and secure. Any reorganisation would have detracted from this.”

Ends

Notes for Editors:

1) Full text of Motion submitted by the Conservatives to Council in November 2005:

Policing in Somerset

Christopher Wolverson will ask the Council to adopt the following resolution:-

“This Council

recognises the commitment of the Avon and Somerset Police Authority to continue to improve force performance with the objective of attaining the top quartile of the prescribed family of similar forces in 2007/08;

welcomes the provision for a wide range of citizen focused police measures by November 2008 identified in the initial 2006/07 budget discussions – in particular the establishment of neighbourhood policing throughout the constabulary area, together with the recruitment of additional Police Community Support Officers, is to be applauded;

supports the views of the Avon and Somerset Police Authority and Constabulary that the review of Protective Services in the HMIC ‘Closing the Gap’ paper is sound, and that the creation of Strategic Forces is necessary;

believes that the Avon and Somerset Force should be one of the Strategic Forces as required in the South West by the Home Secretary”

2) The Liberal Democrat amendment, supported by Labour, deleted the final paragraph of the above amendment and replaced it with:

“believes the Home Secretary in seeking Strategic Police Force areas in the South West makes the overriding imperative of improved governance and accountability at a local neighbourhood (ward) level to be the primary outcome; and that the status quo of Avon and Somerset Constabulary as a stand-alone force is no longer appropriate for the people of Somerset.”

3) For further information or comment, please contact Christopher Wolverson, Leader of the Conservative Group, Somerset County Council, on 01823 356784.

www.somersetconservatives.com