A DECISION by West Mercia Police to end its nationally acclaimed strategic alliance with Warwickshire Police has been slammed by that force’s Police & Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe.
West Mercia’s PCC John Campion and Chief Constable Anthony Bangham made the announcement on Tuesday, October 9, saying by breaking from Warwickshire Police they could ‘deliver more effective and efficient services for communities’, ensuring ‘the public got better value for money’.
However the news has been condemned by Warwickshire Police.
“Since I took office in May 2016, I have been strongly supportive of the alliance between Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police, which has delivered considerable savings and operational benefits for both forces, receiving national acclaim in the process,” said Mr Seccombe.
“I am very surprised by the decision by the West Mercia PCC and Chief Constable.
“This is a hugely disappointing development which I do not support.
“The implications of this decision are significant and I will be working with Chief Constable Martin Jelley to minimise any impact on our communities, partners and workforce.”
Mr Jelley added: “I am surprised and disappointed. This is clearly a decision which has been taken solely by West Mercia’s PCC and Chief Constable and one which myself and the Warwickshire PCC do not support.
“Our two forces entered into a strategic alliance in 2012 which has been recognised nationally for the extensive nature of its collaboration and has demonstrated significant benefits from shared working.
“In fact, it has allowed both forces to save more than £35million and maximise resources to frontline policing.”
Mr Campion said the decision had been ‘carefully considered with communities in mind’.
“How exactly this will look will be shaped over the next year, and this will be worked in detail, with our communities and workforce at the forefront of any decisions,” he said.
However the decision was immediately condemned by Worcestershire Labour leader CounRobin Lunn, who said: “This seems a very strange decision – the co-operation was working and seemed a very sensible direction of travel.
“I would like to know the real reasons behind it, how much it is going to cost, how many hours are going to be spent away from policing our streets to sort it out.”
Earlier this year Mr Campion succeeded in his takeover bid of both Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority and its sister group in Shropshire, bringing their functions under his remit.
The two forces are set to ‘divorce’ on October 8, 2019.
What do you think of the decision? Email [email protected] or write to the address on page ten of this week’s Observer.
