New top cop’s policing pledge
THE new chief constable of Northumbria Police has vowed that he “will not be compromised” on neighbourhood policing.
Winton Keenen’s appointment to the top job was confirmed by a vote of approval from a police and crime panel yesterday.
He began his career with the force in 1985 as a PC and has served as temporary chief since the retirement of Steve Ashman last year.
During a grilling by councillors at the panel meeting in Gateshead yesterday, Mr Keenen warned of the ongoing impact of severe budget cuts of £136m since 2010.
He said: “I can’t keep saying to people that they need to do more with less. That is what people have been saying for a long time.”
He added: “We need to look at more creative ways of engaging, particularly with support for frontline policing.
“The one thing that I will not be compromised on is the local footprint of local police officers.”
Mr Keenen said that, while police forces had been “overfunded” in the past, Northumbria was now “right on the cusp” and that it was “inappropriate” for the force to continue relying on local taxpayers’ money.
Budget cuts have meant that the force has lost 898 police officers in recent years, as well as 926 other staff.
He also told the panel that his promotion from within the force to the chief constable position was necessary to provide consistency and did not represent nepotism. He said: “There is a risk of not having consistency within the force, and that is what I can bring.
“I didn’t expect this post to become vacant by now. I thought we would be continuing on our journey with the previous chief constable.
“The only reason I have applied is that I think the force needs consistency and continuity.
“The best way to do that is to understand the organisation.”
Mr Keenen, who became assistant chief constable in 2014 and deputy in 2015, also urged the force to be “more open” with the public about its successes.
He said: “The figures show that we are the safest place to live in regard to fear of personal crime. But I don’t know that the public knows that. We have been too closed off in the past – we need to take the public on a journey with us.”
Dame Vera Baird, Northumbria police and crime commissioner, said: “Mr Keenen knows the communities of Northumbria and he has many years of exceptional policing experience which will continue to pay dividends in his role as chief constable. The chief constable has worked hard to improve policing right across the force area – I know he will continue this drive in his new role.
“The panel clearly saw the merits and skills that Mr Keenen will bring to the role. This is a new era for our force and our new chief constable is proud to serve Northumbria.
“I have every confidence in his capabilities to lead Northumbria Police and I look forward to working with him to deliver the priorities within the Police and Crime Plan.”