£12m to keep police out of office and on the beat
Police alliance comes to an end
THE tri-force alliance between Avon and Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire police forces has come to an end.
The collaboration, which had been in place since 2013, saw the police forces share firearms, dogs and roads policing units.
But it was announced yesterday that “recent discussions to improve the future working arrangements” of the alliance had ended without agreement.
One sticking point for Wiltshire Police was a proposal that control of armed response policing in the county should pass to the chief constable of Avon and Somerset police.
A statement from Avon and Somerset police said: “For the past seven months all three partners have been working to revise the terms of the collaboration as recommended in the independent reviews.
“Sadly we’ve been unable to reach a consensus on the detail of these arrangements.”
CAFES and libraries are becoming the new offices for police officers as bosses look to improve presence in communities after the closure of 25 stations since 2011.
Avon and Somerset Police is equipping its officers and staff with laptops and mobile phones as part of a £12m technology project.
It means officers will be seen completing paperwork from call-outs in public areas such as cafes, libraries and community centres.
Since 2011, the force has closed 25 stations, with officers moving into new stations, nearby police bases or sharing facilities with other public services.
There are now 41 police stations. The number of officers has also reduced, from 8,626 officers in 2010 to 6,581 this year.
Deputy Chief Constable Sarah Crew said: “Our officers are now able to use their devices wherever they happen to be, so they are making better use of community spaces such as cafes, libraries and community centres, as well as partner agencies’ sites, in order to do their work on the go and without needing to return to the police station so often.
“I know that people appreciate a visible police presence in their community, and my hope is that as officers increasingly take their office outside, the public’s confidence in our service will increase. It’s always reassuring to see a police officer out and about in your community – please do say hello when you see them. If you want to report something to us, ask a question or seek advice, please do so – our officers will always do their best to help.”
The force said the equipment would mean police officers could save time moving between jobs, without having to return to the station for paperwork.
She added: “I believe that policing is a service done by people, not buildings. That is why, at a time of diminishing resources, we are investing more in equipping our people to be more effective and efficient than in buildings that are no longer fit for purpose.”
PC Dan Moulden, who is based at Patchway in South Gloucestershire, said: “It just makes life easier.
“Instead of me going all the way down to my beat which is just over three and a half miles away from the station and having to come back to check for a log or look at a crime report, I’ve got it readily accessible.
“I can update logs, access our databases and send an email from wherever my shift takes me. It just makes life so much easier for me.”
Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said: “This is an ambitious £12m technology programme which puts Avon and Somerset at the forefront of policing.
“Greater user of mobile technology has been my dream for policing ever since I became Police and Crime Commissioner.”