SUSSEX AND SURREY POLICE SET TO MERGE

It is part of a move by the government to reduce the number of police forces in England and Wales.

Sussex Police Authority Chairman, Peter Jones, and Joe Edwards, Chief Constable of Sussex, met the Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, yesterday (March 20)

Mr Clarke said that, based on the advice which he had received from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), he sees the only acceptable way forward is for Surrey and Sussex to merge to form a new strategic force and for the other forces in the South East region to be allowed to remain in place and to develop their capacity to deal with the most serious forms of crime.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Jones said: "We agree that strong policing services are necessary to protect the people of Sussex and that, although Sussex Police has a good record in these areas, more needs to be done. Whether merging Surrey and Sussex is the best way to do that is another matter, however.

"Despite our repeated requests, key questions on how this is to be paid for, what the implications are for staff and how any new force will be held to account locally remain unanswered.

"We will consider carefully what the Home Secretary has told us today and agree our response at the next meeting of the Police Authority, which will be held in Lewes on April 7."

Chief Constable Joe Edwards said: "We recognise the need to provide strong policing services in the areas of major crime, counter terrorism, emergency planning, roads policing, critical incident management and tackling cross border criminality and although considerable investment has already been made into policing these activities, more needs to be done.

"It is important, therefore, that the Force and Authority take time to consider Mr Clarke's proposals and ensure that the best interests of the people of Sussex are taken into account before making any formal response."