RESIDENTS of all generations across Essex are invited to share their views on the Government’s proposed reforms to policing.
A White Paper, From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, was published by the Home Office which sets out proposals to move towards fewer, larger police organisations.
Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, is now encouraging residents of all generations to take part in a public survey to ensure the views of all communities across the county are represented as the Government considers how to go about implementing its major package of reforms.
You can access the survey, which takes only five minutes to complete here: Proposed Police Force Mergers – Essex Public Survey
Under the proposals, existing police forces would be merged into larger regional structures that would include Local Policing Areas (LPAs) to manage neighbourhood issues, alongside a more centralised national approach to policing. The National Police Service (NPS) would, at the outset, be established to set standards and deliver central support functions. In time under the Home Office’s roadmap for the reforms, the NPS would go on to cover serious and organised crime, counter-terrorism and fraud.
While the structural changes aim to improve consistency and efficiency across the country, they could also impact local accountability, community knowledge and the visibility of neighbourhood policing in Essex.
Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said:
“Policing works best when it is rooted in the communities it serves. These proposed national reforms could bring benefits in terms of consistency and efficiency, but it is vital we fully understand what they might mean for local accountability, neighbourhood policing and the strong connection between officers and the public in Essex.
“It is important to underline what the Government is proposing to do. The reforms, if implemented in full, would completely change the way policing is carried out for decades to come. The potential impact should not be underestimated, that is why I felt it was important to launch a local survey.
“I want to make sure that the voices of Essex residents are clearly heard as these proposals are considered. This survey is an opportunity for people of all ages to share their views and help shape the future of policing, both locally and nationally.”
Feedback gathered through the survey will be used by the PFCC to inform representations made to the Government and be incorporated into responses to other review work undertaken at a national level on behalf of Essex residents.
The survey opens on Wednesday 10th June and closes on Wednesday 22nd July.
