Crispin Blunt

Conservative Party | Reigate

Surrey MPs call on Home Secretary to rethink police merger

Today all eleven of Surrey’s MPs wrote a joint letter to the new Home Secretary, Dr John Reid, calling on him to withdraw the proposal to merge Surrey Police with Sussex Police. The previous Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, had instigated the plans and rushed them through in late 2005. The proposals to merge Surrey Police with Sussex police are also opposed by Surrey County Council and by the Police Authority. A copy of the letter is attached to this press release.

Crispin Blunt, Member of Parliament for Reigate, speaking in the House of Commons today called on the new ministers at the Home Office, including the new Home Secretary, Dr John Reid, and the new Police minister Dr Liam Byrne to think again. As in other parts of the country these proposals were opposed by the whole community, representing all shades of political opinion at local level. There was now an opportunity for the new ministers to get the Government off the hook of an unwanted and unwise proposal.

Commenting, after speaking in the House of Commons, Crispin Blunt said:

‘It has been desperately disappointing to hear in the House of Commons today that the new bunch of Home Office ministers appear to be as arrogant and out of touch as their predecessors. They appear determined to foist new structures on much of the country, including Surrey and Sussex, in the teeth of universal opposition. If they continue down this path they cannot say they were not warned of the consequences. I know that the Surrey MPs will continue to fight for their police force until the end. For my part if the Surrey Police force ceases to exist I will not expect Surrey Council Taxpayers to have to foot the bill for a police force which is no longer theirs.’

Letter to Home Secretary