Ministers accused of sidelining police reform debate

Friday, 25 November 2005 12:00 AM

The government has been accused of trying to rush through plans to merge police forces in England and Wales after a debate on the issue in parliament was cancelled.

Leader of the Commons Geoff Hoon yesterday announced that proposals to cut the number of police forces from 43 to 12 would not be debated next Thursday as planned.

He insisted the change in timetable was necessary to give MPs time to discuss the council tax revaluation bill, but opposition parties accused him of sidelining a vital debate.

"There is clearly widespread, cross-party concern about it," said the Conservative MP David Gauke, adding: "Is not the government trying to rush through the proposals with little or no debate, either here or elsewhere?"

All police forces have been asked to consult on a number of options for restructuring, such as merging with one or more local forces, before reporting back to the Home Office in December.

The plans are intended to improve efficiency and use of resources, and come after a report from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in September found the current police force structure was "no longer fit for purpose".

However, critics argue that the restructuring - which could see the four police forces in Wales merged into one - would break the link between communities and their local police.

Yesterday, Mr Hoon rejected calls for a full Commons debate on the issue before Christmas, saying there was not enough parliamentary time, but said a debate could be held in the Westminster Hall if MPs were particularly concerned.

However, this only caused more anger. Lib Dem MP David Heath said such a debate was "not an adequate substitute" for full discussion in the Commons.

"I echo the widespread irritation and annoyance at the cancellation of the debate next Thursday on police restructuring," he said.

"The leader of the House must realise that already the options [for restructuring] have been reduced without members having any opportunity to express an opinion."

Conservative MP Edward Garnier added: "This is a matter of huge public concern. It concerns the most major restructuring of the police for about a third of a century.

"Simply to dismiss the matter as something that might be dealt with in Westminster Hall or at some time in the new year is not good enough."

However, Mr Hoon insisted he recognised the seriousness of the need for debate, but said that it would not be possible to schedule one in the Commons until the new year.

"Given that I announced that there would be a debate, it is a little unfair of the honourable gentleman to suggest that the government are alarmed, concerned or frightened of holding one. Indeed, I made it clear today that there will be such a debate," he added.

Meanwhile, at the Association of Police Authorities (APA) conference in Belfast, chairman Bob Jones called for a "full democratic parliamentary debate" on the issue.

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