POLICING IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Early day motion 828, tabled 21 October 2005 by Martin Horwood (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 13 members.

That this House congratulates Gloucestershire Constabulary on achieving an eight per cent. reduction in recorded crime in 2004-05 including a 17.8 per cent. reduction in home burglary and a 19.6 per cent. reduction in car crime; further notes the force's successful conclusion of the longest and largest legal aid fraud investigation the country has ever seen, the successful conclusion of a nationally significant counter terrorist investigation and trial and its pioneering but now well-established use of the community policing approach; further notes the report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) in October 2004 into Gloucestershire Constabulary and its conclusions that `a number of successful cross-border operations targeting Level 2 drug offenders and money launderers have been conducted' and that `for a force of its size, Gloucestershire Constabulary has a comprehensive Level 2 capability'; notes with concern the more recent HMIC report Closing the Gap with its emphasis on general trends and potential cost savings and its threat to the continued existence of Gloucestershire Constabulary; reaffirms its support for locally-based and accountable policing; and calls on the Home Secretary to safeguard the future of this successful force.

Signatures by party: Labour 7, Conservative 4, DUP 1, Liberal Democrat 1.