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February 10 2010

ISHERWOOD: HUGE CHALLENGES FOR NORTH WALES POLICE

AN Assembly Member fears the impact further cuts to police spending could have on the North Wales force, which is already facing “huge challenges.”

Welsh Conservative, Mark Isherwood, is concerned at the additional pressure this will place on North Wales Police.     

“Consideration is being given to centralising custody suites in North Wales. The possible closure of 5 police units across North Wales will mean that Officers and prisoners, including mentally ill patients having to travel long distances.”

He added: “A freeze on recruitment by North Wales Police is impacting on the often forgotten needs of the CID as quality officers leave the force.

“Crimes investigation requires a dedicated eye to ensure that the CPS are presented with evidence to prosecute. The Home Office plans to cut police overtime bills by £70m a year.

“Funding pressures upon the CID have reduced the time allocated to the investigation of crime.  No CID officer wants to be working continually a system of ‘overtime’. 

“Having rest days cancelled week-in-week out is compromising the service the Police wish to give. Government cannot say ‘no more overtime’ but carry on doing the job.”

Mr Isherwood said he recognises we live in difficult times and this must impact on police funding, but stressed: “the Police service needs to be examined with knowledge and not left to the whims of political expediency.”

He said Police Federation members have told him communication systems are in dire need of upgrading, of retention and recruitment concerns, and of concerns of work force modernisation imposed from London. 

“The public demand safer communities and Police Officers the resource to carry out their public duties,” said Mr Isherwood.

“They should be focusing on police work, not paperwork.

“Conservatives have pledged to cut Police bureaucracy, scrap forms for stop and search and re-introduce charging discretion to the custody Sergeant – saving alone 1 million hours of Police time a year.”

He added: “As the Police Federation say ‘the Police Reform Programme and the speed with which it is being implemented is at the root of the problem of ‘24/7 response policing’.  The picture is one of front-line officers struggling to cope with the realities of rapid reform and constant change.”