Police Commissioner must explain breakdown in alliance between local forces

After questioning at Rugby Borough Council on 13 December 2018, Councillor Jerry Roodhouse (Paddox Ward) believes that Warwickshire's Police and Crime Commissioner must do more to engage with Councillors and residents following the breakdown of the strategic alliance between the West Mercia and Warwickshire Police forces.

At full Council, Councillor Roodhouse asked the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for community safety to confirm if the Council is providing any extra support to the Police following the breakdown of the strategic alliance between the West Mercia and Warwickshire Police forces.

The Portfolio Holder stated the detail and implications of West Mercia Police's intention to withdraw from the Strategic Alliance in October 2019 are yet to be fully understood and discussed. No additional support has been requested by Warwickshire Police to date.

The forces merged services include firearms and police dog officers as well as IT, HR and communications in 2013. The forces currently share the same control room and jointly cover a patch of 3,000 square miles.

Commenting, Councillor Jerry Roodhouse, said:

"Liberal Democrats are very concerned that the split will mean greater pressures on the Warwickshire Police force. It is now vitally important that Warwickshire's Police and Crime Commissioner engages with Councillors and residents to help reassure communities that local Policing numbers will not be reduced, and we will all be kept safe."