Warwickshire Police say neighbouring force should pay for split
WARWICKSHIRE police bosses say West Mercia force needs to fork out for the divorce it is forcing on them.
The force has responded to claims that it is not ready for the alliance with West Mercia Police to come to an end on October 8 and needs extra time.
John Campion, the the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), hinted at a meeting that Warwickshire is seeking to keep some ties with West Mercia beyond the October 8 cut-off point.
He said they will do that pending ‘a fair and reasonable and equitable cost settlement.’
However, in a joint statement, Deputy Chief Constable Richard Moore and Warwickshire PCC Philip Seccombe, said that as West Mercia sprung the surprise break-up of the alliance on Warwickshire, then they should foot the bill for it all.
It also goes on to say that West Mercia itself also has shared services currently delivered by Warwickshire - meaning it too may not have everything in order to leave by the October 8 deadline.
While that is the legal date on which the alliance will end and both will become separate forces, there is the scope to come up with a longer-term transition.
But John Campion said: “We are supportive of offering those longer transition terms in a sixmonth and an 18-month new collaboration agreement, but that will be reliant on us settling the cost associated with the John Campion termination of the existing strategic alliance agreement. “Without the settlement of that, what figure that Warwickshire hold West Mercia accountable, there will be no future collaboration based on that longer-term transition.”
However, the joint statment from DCC Moore and PCC Seccombe said: “Warwickshire is asking for West Mercia to honour its obligations and meet the costs that come as a consequence of its decision to terminate. Thursday 19th September - Saturday 21st September Thurs-Fri 8am - 5pm, Saturday 9am-5pm
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“This is fair and what the taxpayers of Warwickshire would expect us to pursue on their behalf.”
The duo went on to add that Warwickshire Police Force will not only survive post alliance break-up, but ‘exciting opportunities’ lie ahead.
Discussions to finalise the transition out of the strategic alliance with West Mercia are ongoing but the Chief Constables of Warwickshire and West Mercia are in full support of achieving an amicable and negotiated separation which meets the needs of both forces.