Read my latest news and views…
£100m Burnham Bonus for policing?
Could Andy Burnham’s first big win be a boost to policing?
Amongst the horse trading and power play for those lining up in the hope of gifts being bestowed by Prime Minister Burnham, we have heard rumours of a falling out over the plans to reform the police.
Government announces new asylum camp at MOD Bicester
Many will welcome the closure of asylum hotels, including the Oxford Witney Hotel and the Mercure George Hotel in Reading, but there will be significant concern about the community impact of MOD Bicester being used as an open camp for asylum seekers.
Police Reform plans risk undermining local policing and public safety
I have published a detailed response to the Government’s Police Reform White Paper, warning that the proposals risk weakening local policing; reducing resources, lessening accountability, and ultimately making communities less safe.
The Crime and Policing Act: The good, the bad and the missed opportunities.
Of course any Government will trumpet their legislation as universally successful, and there are many good measures included, but I want to present a balanced analysis that also recognises the flaws, some of which are instructive about our politics more broadly.
Update on East Hagbourne Post Office campaign
Thanks to the efforts of everyone who backed the local campaign to save East Hagbourne Post Office - there is hope - but the fight isn’t over yet.
I wrote to the Post Office Minister back in March to raise the impact of the decision not to recruit a new sub-postmaster. I have received confirmation from the Minister that there is some movement, but not a viable solution yet.
PCC condemns Home Office cuts to organised crime units
The Home Secretary has been accused of failing in her duty to support the fight against organised crime in the UK. Despite tough rhetoric the Government is cutting support for police officers on the ground whilst spending nearly one hundred million pounds on their top-down police reform programme.