Statement from County Durham and Darlington PCC Joy Allen in response to proposals for police force mergers:
PCC Joy Allen said: “Bigger is not always better, and I have yet to see any evidence that reducing 43 police forces to nine mega-forces will deliver better policing. In fact, to the contrary. As we have seen, it appears the biggest forces are the ones HMICFS have the most concerns about.
“The idea of a national police service to boost resilience is one thing, but before embarking on a costly and disruptive reorganisation, we should focus on putting officers back on the streets. In County Durham and Darlington, we still have around 120 fewer officers than we did in 2010. Money spent forcing structural change would be far better invested in frontline policing.
“Nothing I have seen convinces me that a mega-force would improve services for our rural communities, increase police visibility in areas with lower but persistent levels of crime and anti-social behaviour, or strengthen local accountability. If anything, there is a real risk that resources could be drawn away to higher-crime urban areas elsewhere in the region.
“Most importantly, the public deserve a say. When detailed proposals emerge, I will be asking residents and businesses across County Durham and Darlington whether this is the future of policing they want to see – and experience.
“Whatever its size, every police force must remain accountable to the communities it serves and be judged on one simple test: does it keep people safe?”
