Crime Commissioner: My policing plan will surprise a lot of people (From Bournemouth Echo)

Crime Commissioner: My policing plan will surprise a lot of people

1:00pm Friday 11th January 2013 in News By Paula Roberts

DORSET’S Police and Crime Commissioner is gearing up for next month’s all-important meeting where he will announce his new chief constable.

Martyn Underhill will ask the Police and Crime Panel on February 7 to approve the appointment of his chosen candidate who will take on the reigns of Dorset Police.

He will also present his police plan to the 17-strong panel, which will detail how he wants Dorset to be policed in the coming years and outline his policing priorities.

Mr Underhill said: “My policing plan will surprise a lot of people. It is a one-page document – the older plan was 64 pages. I want the public to be able to read the report and understand it.”

Four people have applied for the position of chief constable, including current acting chief constable Debbie Simpson.

Mr Underhill is also expected to ask the panel to approve his decision on whether to implement an increase in the police element of the council tax precept or accept a government freeze grant to keep costs down for residents.

The commissioner has been lobbying Government in recent weeks about funding.

He has written to Chancellor George Osborne calling for a radical review of the police funding formula.

He said the government needed to take action to stop Dorset being one of the lowest-funded forces in the country.

Mr Underhill says a review of the formula should take into account the challenges of rural policing, together with the large volume of visitors to the county each year.

The commissioner has also made a plea to government to put a stop to spending cuts, which he said could put public safety at risk and the county at “tipping point”.

Dorset has to make savings of another £13 million by 2014-15 on top of the £10 million already achieved.

The Police and Crime Panel will meet at County Hall in Dorchester at 10am on February 7.