PCC and chief constable meet MPs
A fairer share of central government funding, the cost of alcohol related crime and mental health provision were on the agenda when Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg and Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer met south west members of Parliament at Westminster on Tuesday (10 December).
A cross party group of eight of the regions MPs joined Mr Hogg and Mr Sawyer to look at the issues they feel have the biggest effect on policing the peninsula.
This is not the first time the two men have joined forces to seek the assistance of local MPs.
Earlier this year, when Chancellor George Osborne announced overall cuts to police funding budgets of 5.75 per cent in 2014/15 and 4.9 per cent in 2015/16, they lobbied all 18 south west MPs to help and asked them to be forthright in their demands for Devon and Cornwall.
Recently, Mr Hogg also joined other south west PCCs to lobby policing minister Damian Green about extra pressure being put on police budgets by diverting local money to fund national police developments such as expanding Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies.
In particular, Mr Hogg and Mr sawyer explained that the national policing grant took no account of the large number of visitors that swell the population during the summer.
Alcohol related crime and the provision of services to people with mental health problems are also significant drains on police funding and resources so it was appropriate that both issues featured highly on the agenda.
“The meeting was very beneficial and I feel there is a real understanding of how these issues affect the way policing is delivered in the south west,” said Mr Hogg.
“Clearly we need to keep up the pressure on Government to ensure we get a fairer share of the policing pot in the south west and I am certain there is a consensus of agreement on that.
“But we also asked our elected representatives to consider what they can do to help in other key areas including how to reduce the effects of alcohol related crime on society and how public sector partners can best deliver services to those with mental health problems.
“The impact of reduced mental health services are being felt in parts of society. The police are having to manage vulnerable people with mental health issues that should be being cared for by mental health professionals.
“Unfortunately, at present, to protect vulnerable people and the wider public the police are often having to remove people from the streets and keep them in custody for extended periods until a mental health bed becomes available."
