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Essex Police commissioner opposes plan to merge into regional force

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 9 Nov, 14:01 · Archive

Essex's police commissioner has attacked Government plans to merge Essex Police into a larger regional force.

Essex Police commissioner Roger Hirst has launched a blistering attack on Government-backed plans to merge Essex Police into a regional 'super force'. A Government-commissioned review led by former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe recommends England should have as few as nine regional police forces, with the plans set to absorb Essex Police into a larger force covering a wider area.

Mr Hirst says Essex Police should not pay for the Metropolitan Police's 'failings'. 'There is no doubt the Metropolitan Police needs reform. It is too large to be held accountable, serving a population of nine million people,' he said. 'It is failing in terms of culture and tackling crime. Essex Police, serving a population of 1.9 million, which has cut crime, reduced anti-social behaviour and has a much better culture, should not pay the price.' He warned the mergers could undermine policing by consent and undo recent progress against crime and anti-social behaviour.

Over the summer, a public consultation of 1,700 people found 69 per cent opposed larger regional police forces, with half strongly opposed. Mr Hirst said the findings showed 'no public appetite for change in Essex' and that meetings across the county had revealed 'deep public concern and opposition' to the plans. Former Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel, MP for Witham, backed Mr Hirst and branded the proposals 'wrong, unwelcome and undemocratic'.

Essex Police commissioner opposes plan to merge into regional force
Image: Colchester Gazette

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In this story: Roger Hirst · Bernard Hogan-Howe · Dame Priti Patel · Essex Police · Metropolitan Police · Essex

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