Staffordshire’s police, fire and crime commissioner has raised concerns about future funding of services after major reforms to policing were announced by the Government.
Ben Adams described the proposals as a “death knell for Staffordshire Police”, after it was announced a review was being launched into reducing the number of police forces across England and Wales from the current 43.
Mr Adams’ own role is being axed in 2028, after the Government announced last year police and crime commissioners would be abolished. Their powers are to be transferred to regional mayors or policing and crime boards made up of local council leaders, (writes local democracy reporter Kerry Ashdown).
Last Monday, Mr Adams presented a four year investment programme for Staffordshire Police to members of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel, which includes the first two years after his term as commissioner runs out.
He also spoke about the national proposals – described by the Government as “the largest reforms to policing since forces were professionalised two centuries ago” – unveiled the previous week.
Mr Adams said: “No doubt members will have noted the white paper announcement by the home secretary last Monday. We’ve had expectations of this for some time, and certainly rumours have been circulated about a reduction in the number of police forces.
“The number has been mooted at somewhere between 10 and 15, which means it might well mirror the regional structure we’re involved in at the moment for regional organised crime, where we’re in partnership with West Midlands, Warwickshire and West Mercia.
“There’s a review being conducted independently and we should hear back in the summer – which is no coincidence, as it ties in with some of the devolution clarity that is expected by authorities in the summer.
“There may well be, in the long term, some savings as a result of the amalgamation of administration and enabling functions. But I can tell you in this last week that has already given me significant pause as to how we invest and the projects we invest in.”
Focus
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood has pledged to “significantly” cut the number of forces from its current level of 43, and to tell them to focus on serious and organised crime.
Police chiefs themselves have been calling for the creation of 12 “mega forces” to save money and boost crime fighting efforts.
The BBC said it could be “years” before changes were implemented, with Government sources telling the BBC it would only happen by the end of the next Parliament, around 2034.
Ms Mahmood argues that the current model of 43 forces is bureaucratic and wastes money, with each force running their own headquarters, management teams and backroom staff.
She also believes that the performance of local forces varies too widely across England, with smaller forces less well equipped to deal with serious crime and respond to major incidents.
However, new local policing areas are also planned, with local officers focusing on neighbourhood policing.
It is proposed these will be set up in every borough, town or city across England, and will work with communities and fight what the Government called “local crime”, such as shoplifting, phone theft and drug dealing.
The BBC reported that Government “insiders” acknowledged there was an “epidemic of everyday offences” going unpunished, and said they believed criminals thought they could “cause havoc on our streets with impunity” because people were forced to wait hours or days for police to investigate crimes.
Prudent
Back in Staffordshire, Mr Adams said it would not be “prudent” for him to invest in new technology until the force knew what future it faced and who it would be working with.
“I think this is a national issue – there’s a real risk in reform of this nature without pace and clarity,” he said.
“(We need) details fast, so I can make some decisions in the interest of Staffordshire’s residents.”
The policing shake up comes as local government is also facing major reorganisation.
County, borough and district councils are to be axed in 2028, to be replaced by unitary authorities, while elected mayors will oversee “strategic authorities” covering wider geographical areas.
Mr Adams said on Monday: “There seems to be a move away from tying police and fire functions to mayoral boundaries, which is causing some confusion, and a commitment to local policing areas – again confusion on what the local geography might mean.
“For me, the areas that are most concerning are how will police continue to be funded if there’s a disconnect with the local council tax.
“If there aren’t clear electoral boundaries, we’ve got a problem, because you can’t set tax without some local accountability. That will be a massive change – right from the time of Peel (in the 19th century) there’s been a link back to the public funding.
“Previously, when these proposals were mooted, I believe under the early days of Tony Blair’s Government, it was balancing finances that did for proposals. There is a very big difference between how much is contributed in cities compared with county areas.
“The main concern is the confusion, the potential for inertia, people not making decisions they should be making in the next few years about investment and whether it will indeed realise any of the savings. I very much agree with the potential for a national forensics service, more consistency around IT and procurement – they should deliver efficiencies.
“But we mustn’t underestimate the amount of work that’s going to have to take place to move from one body to another. It is a risk for the future that a police force is directed by central government. We’ve always maintained this separation within law in this country and I would support that.
“Hopefully it’s a genuine consultation and people can push back. It is going to be a really concerning time for some people in those services – understandably – and the proposal that some of this might not actually happen for several years doesn’t give me any comfort.”
