Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

What is Westminster playing at?
Following the recent consultations, Wiltshire’s Chief Constable, Martin Richards, has written to the Home Office setting out options for the proposed re-organisation.

However, the Home Office has allowed only two possibilities – either one Megaforce for the whole of South-West England, or two forces for the region with Devon & Cornwall hived off.

The region’s Chief Constables have suggested a further option. This is that the County Constabularies would be retained, but with shared services to cover what are called ‘Level 2’ Protective Services - terrorism and major crimes.

“The consultation we have carried out with you and others has been extremely useful in formulating our views as to the best option for Wiltshire,” said Mr Richards. “We will continue to keep you abreast of developments and to seek your views.” On past form, however, the Home Office is unlikely to take any notice.

Nationally, the government wants to scrap the existing structure of 43 local police forces in England and Wales. Instead they would like to create as few as 12 regional forces despite the fact that doing so would undoubtedly cut the links between local communities and the police. However, it would hand even more central control to Westminster which is what this seems to really be about.

I don't think that anybody wants to encourage inefficiency in this day and age, but it would seem that every 'improvement' that is foisted on rural counties leads to a reduced service and wholesale cut-backs.

Perhaps the government can end their poor record in this department but, somehow, I doubt it.