Roger Hirst, PFCC, steps up fight to keep Essex Police local as Government review is delayed

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst has welcomed the delay to police merger plans and renewed his call for the Government to abandon proposals that could see Essex Police absorbed into a larger regional force.

The Government announced plans earlier this year to significantly reduce the number of police forces in England and Wales, potentially replacing existing forces with much larger regional constabularies.

An Independent Review of Police Force Structures, led by Lord Bernard Hogan-Howe, is considering the future number and configuration of police forces. The review has now been delayed.

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said:

“The delay is welcome and gives the Government a further opportunity to listen to the very clear message coming from people across our county. We will continue to make the case strongly for policing to remain locally led and locally accountable.

“More than 1,700 people responded to our survey and the message was clear – the majority oppose merging police forces and overwhelmingly support policing which is locally led and responsive to the needs of our communities.

“I have put that evidence directly in front of Lord Hogan-Howe. The verdict from Essex is clear: there is no public appetite for replacing Essex Police with a much larger regional force. Doing so risks weakening the local knowledge, accountability and connection with communities that effective policing depends on.

“The Government should now listen to the evidence, listen to the people of Essex and abandon these proposals. Reform should strengthen policing, not make it more remote from the communities it serves.”

The delay marks an important moment for the campaign to keep Essex Police local. It comes after a summer of sustained opposition across the county, with residents making their views heard through the PFCC’s survey and at a public meeting in Leigh. In August, Roger took that evidence directly to Lord Hogan-Howe, making clear the strength of opposition in Essex to the proposed mergers.

The campaign will continue with the next public meeting on Thursday 24 September at Falcon Bowling Club, Channels Drive, Chelmsford, CM3 3FB, giving residents another opportunity to have their say on the future of local policing.

The meeting builds on the clear message already received through the PFCC’s Essex-wide survey, carried out between 10 June and 22 July.

Independent analysis found:

• 69% opposed proposals to merge police forces into larger regional constabularies, including 50% who strongly opposed them.
• 79% identified the loss of local knowledge and personal connections with communities as a potential risk of force mergers.
• 85% agreed that policing should remain locally led to ensure officers understand and focus on community needs.
• 74% disagreed that policing would become more visible if forces merged, while just 8% agreed.

Former Southend West MP Anna Firth has been among those campaigning against the proposed mergers and recently hosted a public meeting in Leigh with the PFCC.

Anna Firth said:

“The delay is welcome and shows why it is so important that we continue making our voices heard.

“Our meeting in Leigh demonstrated the strength of feeling locally. People do not want decisions about policing in their communities becoming more remote and they do not want Essex Police swallowed up into a much larger regional force.

“This campaign has brought people together to stand up for local policing, but we cannot take anything for granted. We need to keep up the pressure and make sure Ministers hear directly from the people who will be affected by these proposals.

“I would urge everyone who wants to keep Essex Police local to contact their MP and make their voice heard.

“The Government now has an opportunity to think again and abandon an expensive and unnecessary reorganisation that Essex neither needs nor wants.”