The President of the Association of Chief Police Officers, Sir Hugh Orde, was a guest at the latest regional meeting of the Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables. It was hosted inExeterbyDevonand Cornwall PCC Tony Hogg, alongside Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer on Wednesday 17th April.
The five South West policing areas have vowed to work closer together in the future.
Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables from Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, Avon andSomerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire have reinforced their determination to develop a powerful group to ensure that the region stays amongst the safest in the country, despite government cutbacks. It will also be a powerful voice in lobbying for resources.
Martyn Underhill said: “It is important to develop a regional, as well as a local voice. I look forward to working with the region’s other PCCs and Chief Constables in the months and years ahead. Together, we can ensure policing in the South West remains efficient and effective.”
The group has met on two occasions since the PCC elections in November and has already discussed procurement saving across the region and potential areas of closer co-operation for South West policing.
A new governance model has been agreed for future projects. Attendees considered a new matrix of collaborative initiatives and Chief Constables will now spend some time assessing priorities on an operational and efficiency basis. It is hoped to save several million pounds a year across the South West.
