Public backs keeping Devon & Cornwall Police independent

Residents of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have sent a “very clear message” that they do not support Devon & Cornwall Police becoming part of a larger police force, says Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez.

Almost three quarters of people who took part in a survey seeking views on police reform have said they do not support their local force being merged with another force.

It comes as Commissioner Hernandez has written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to raise “deep concern” that becoming part of a larger police force would result in a lower standard of service for Devon and Cornwall and leave rural areas at risk of becoming under-resourced.

The letter, which is published on the OPCC website, also raises fears over the impact proposals would have on safeguarding, road safety and other public safety responsibilities, as well as how the police are held to account.

More than 1,600 people responded to the police reform survey carried out by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) which asked whether residents supported a merger, how they would prefer to see a larger force structured, and what benefits or risks proposals might bring. 

The survey found that 72% of respondents oppose a merger, with just 23% supporting the proposal, reflecting views expressed by residents in other police force areas across England, as well as previous surveys by the Devon & Cornwall OPCC. 

Earlier this year, the annual Your Safety, Your Say survey carried out by the OPCC found 66% of respondents wanted Devon & Cornwall Police to continue in its current form, with fewer than one in five (18%) supporting a regional South West force. 

Recent consultation findings published by Hertfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner found 68% of respondents opposed police mergers, while a consultation undertaken in West Mercia reported 57% opposition and in Kent showed 83% opposed a merger with other forces.

The Devon and Cornwall survey found strong opposition across every local authority area, with the highest levels recorded in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (78.6%), Plymouth (77%) and Torbay (77%).

A proposed Devon & Cornwall and Dorset Police merger considered nearly a decade ago, found 36% of respondents in Devon and 48% in Dorset agreed or strongly agreed that a merger would be ‘logical’, compared with just 16% of people in Cornwall.

While that debate centred on whether a merger with a neighbouring force could deliver operational and financial benefits, the latest survey found a clear preference for retaining Devon & Cornwall Police as a standalone force, with more than half of respondents saying they could not support any merger option (54.3%) or see any benefits from a merger (55.3%).

The survey also revealed significant concern about the impact a merger could have on local policing. The most commonly identified risks were:

The most frequently cited advantages were:

The survey found respondents were also sceptical that larger forces would improve public services. Majorities disagreed that a merger would improve emergency response, public accountability, police visibility or crime investigation.

Commissioner Hernandez said: "The public have delivered a very clear message. People across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly value local policing and do not want decisions about their communities taken further away from the places they live.

"Residents have told us they are particularly concerned about losing local knowledge, local focus and the responsiveness that they expect from their police service.

"These findings are also consistent with views expressed through our previous surveys and with consultation results emerging from other parts of the country.

"Devon & Cornwall Police already covers one of the largest geographical policing areas in England. It serves urban, rural, coastal and island communities with very different needs, and people have made it clear they do not want those local priorities diluted.

"I am asking the Home Office to ensure residents’ views are clearly represented in any future decisions about the structure of policing by undertaking meaningful engagement with communities, elected representatives, public and private sector leaders."

In her letter to the Home Secretary, Commissioner Hernandez is also seeking assurance that any business case sets out the costs, benefits and risks in relation to each local area and any impact on protected groups.