POLICE RESTRUCTURING REVIEW PROCESS

Early day motion 1042, tabled 16 November 2005 by Frank Cook (Labour). Signed by 24 members.

That this House recognises the importance of ensuring that the police service is able to meet the challenge of delivering key protective services, including counter-terrorism; believes that proposals to create forces covering huge areas can only undermine seriously the principles of local accountability, consent and support which is central to the British police service; regards the process used so far to approve or reject options for changes as flawed in regard to the undue haste with which it is being conducted and the narrow band of criteria being employed, thereby leading to a lack of any meaningful consultation or proper assessment of operational, financial or governance issues; believes it to be totally unacceptable that in the North East of England and Wales only one option should be put forward for further consideration, thereby removing all element of public choice; and calls on the Government to ensure that it introduces change to the review structure in a manner which ensures that all parts of the country have the opportunity to consider a genuine choice of options and that any proposed new structures are assessed on their ability to deliver the full range of policing services effectively and efficiently and remain properly accountable to the communities they serve.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 7, Conservative 6, Labour 6, DUP 4, Plaid Cymru 1.