Southend’s own force? MPs not so impressed

Yesterday, the Echo reported the Southend Independents’ ambitions to bring back Southend Borough Police Force as a separate entity from Essex Police, in a bid to improve resources and funding in the face of rising violent crime.

But while everyone in the community shares the concern for funding and resources for police in Southend, there is little support for the plans from the town’s Conservatives MPs.

James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East, said a more integrated approach is what is needed rather than a divisive one.

He added: “As policing becomes more complex and integrated we need Essex police to work closer to the Met on issue such as drugs and gangs, and with Kent on issues such as helicopter support and firearms, and the Association of Chief Police Officers on a range of national issues.

“A move away from policing on an Essex basis, to localised in Southend, is ill-thought through and is another example of fuzzy thinking from the so called Independents.”

Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West, said: “Southend being a unitary authority has struggled with many challenges in terms of resources and economies of scale. I have not seen any detailed, worked out plans for a Southend borough police force.

“It is a long time ago since Southend had its own police force and there are not that many people left in the town who can talk with knowledge about how it worked. It should also be remembered that as a result, for instance, of technology, many crimes which officers deal with today are very different to those of 50 years ago.

“Specifically, turning to violence and knife crimes, the House of Commons has held many debates to which politicians of all parties have contributed and a solution which can quickly be delivered has yet to be found.”

Southend is set to get 15 new officers within a matter of months as part of the 150 new officers across Essex but concerns are this won’t be enough to combat the rising crime levels across the borough.

Similarly, Southend’s Labour councillors disagreed a step back in time was necessary to bring resources up to the necessary level.

The party’s councillor for public protection Matt Dent said: “Everyone recognises that our police are in dire need of more resources to do their job this has been far from forthcoming in sufficient numbers.

“However, I fail to see what a Southend police force could achieve. The money that would have to be spent on administration, governance change and rebranding would do better going into more bobbies on the beat.

“A tiny local police force in Southend would not be able to support the specialist functions that modern policing requires: armed police, counter-terrorism, fraud, cyber-crime and many others. The Independent Group’s plan here is just not credible.

“What Southend needs is for our present police to be given the funding and resources they need to do their jobs and keep our town safe for everyone. We need to be looking to fund a 21st century police force, not looking to go back to the 1960s like this.”

However, leading members of the business community have thrown their support behind the notion.

Paul Thompson, former chairman of the Seafront Traders Association, said: “Southend never seems to get its fair share when it comes to policing.

“The cops we do have do a fantastic job under difficult circumstances but the town needs a dramatic increase in officers. The 15 we have been offered is a drop in the ocean. The state of the high street is having a massive impact on the economy. People have stopped coming to the town. You park up and are immediately set upon by aggressive beggars.

“Southend has its own unique problems and 100,000 visitors when the sun comes out so it is fair to call for its own police force.”

Adventure Island boss Philip Miller also added his support on social media, saying: “It might be an impossible dream but it just so happens Mr Terry is only saying what we all feel.

“If only Southend Council and Southend BID were on the same wavelength.”