Rudd’s ‘secret’ visit slammed
HOME Secretary Amber Rudd was plunged into a ‘cowardice’ row after making a private visit to Durham Police HQ.
Media and local MPs were excluded from the visit on Wednesday when she met with the force’s Chief Constable Mike Barton and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg. She was accompanied by Minister for Policing and the Fire Service Nick Hurd, who then made an unpublicised visit to meet Northumbria Police officers working in Newcastle city centre.
Durham North’s Labour MP Kevan Jones said it was “remarkable” a senior ministerial visit would take place with no scrutiny from the media. He said: “It’s like the Conservative election campaign all over again. It is unheard of on my part for a visit from a minister of that importance to take place without the press. What are they afraid of?”
The meeting comes after figures revealed a huge decline in police numbers in the North East.
Mr Jones said he has invited Mr Hurd to the North East to discuss cuts to the policing budget on a number of occasions but was not included in this visit.
“It’s just remarkable that they are unwilling to face scrutiny from local people. If they are so convinced that what they are doing is right then why is it an issue?”
The Home Secretary and Mr Hurd visited the Aykley Heads headquarters and were shown how the top performing force in the country is tackling cybercrime and safeguarding vulnerable people. Mike Barton added: “It’s good news that the Home Secretary and Policing Minister came to see what we’re doing here in Durham. We are extremely proud of our people and what they are achieving so it was great that a number of them were able to showcase their work to such an audience today.”
Mr Hogg explained the challenges the force is facing. The former police officer has long been outspoken against Government cuts to policing. He said: “I hope the Ministers have listened and learned from the day, and recognise that any further cuts to policing services in Durham will affect our ability to deliver the excellent service our communities have come to expect.”
“We also discussed the Government’s revised drugs strategy. Whilst we differ on some major issues, and I believe the strategy is insufficiently radical, there are common areas of interest and opportunity which I would like to explore.”