Police plans found to be dead

1.16.49pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 13th Jul 2006

Liberal Democrats in Crawley have welcomed the news that the plans to merge Sussex Police with Surrey Police have almost certainly been abandoned.

In a major U-turn the Government has scrapped its plans to merge police forces in England and Wales, it announced yesterday. The scheme to reduce the number of forces from 43 to about 28 was the brainchild of the former home secretary, Charles Clarke. The Liberal Democrats opposed the mergers.

Nick Clegg MP - "the Home Office is developing a worrying reputation for rushed and ill-thought out proposals that it has to abandon - usually after wasting millions of pounds."

Nick Clegg MP, Liberal Democrats Shadow Home Secretary said "Mergers would have been an expensive mistake, and the Government's acknowledgement of this fact is to be welcomed. But the Home Office is developing a worrying reputation for rushed and ill-thought out proposals that it has to abandon - usually after wasting millions of pounds. Ministers should now focus on sensible, practical policies to help the police tackle serious crime by working together."

"I'm please that it now looks almost certain that these plans are dead" said Councillor Gordon Seekings, a member of the Crawley Borough Council Police Liaison Committee. "It looks as if the Government is going to back down and let the police get on with the job we pay them to do."

Cllr Gordon Seekings - "merger could mean a hefty hike for tax payers in Crawley without any additional benefit."

Continuing Gordon said "As Liberal Democrats we have argued against these mergers. We are worried about the costs. Other police authorities charge council tax payers more so any merger could mean a hefty hike for tax payers in Crawley without any additional benefit."

"We were also worried about the lack of accountability in the proposed Police Authority as local councillor representation will be substantially reduced. Local people must be able to influence the police authority, A "super-force" based miles away will be remote and unresponsive."

"The Liberal Democrats will continue to fight the government to make sure that these plans are well and truly dead and buried. We will continue to campaign for more local police on our streets and that the police forces remain accountable to local people."