LibDems slam Labour over police merger mix-up

2.42.13pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 17th Jul 2006

We need safe streets.

Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats have slammed the shambles arising from the government's about-turn over police mergers.

'Charles Clarke, the former Home Secretary decided that he knew better how to police Hertfordshire than the Chief Constable when he ignored his recommendation - namely that if any merger was needed, it should be with Bedfordshire only. Charles Clarke insisted that a 3 counties merger, which nobody else wanted, was the only way forward. But he didn't have the decency to ensure the money was available to push this through,' said Malcolm Cowan, LibDem County Councillor for Handside and Peartree.

After Charles Clarke was forced out of his job, his successor John Reid has decided that all forced mergers are now ff. 'That is wholly to be welcomed, but why was both new policy and the previous policy accepted by the Cabinet? What about nearly a year of wasted effort by senior police, wasted money and demoralisation of the men and women on the front line of the fight against crime? Why should we take seriously any new initiatives by the government?' he asked.

'There is clearly an issue about making sure we have police forces which are effective in dealing with serious crimes and terrorism. This can best be achieved by pooling specialist resources between forces, which can be done cheaply without the massive reorganisations envisaged by Charles Clarke' Malcolm concluded.

For further information, contact Malcolm Cowan on 01707-324723.