Anger over police group change

THE chairman of a police and community consultative group has slammed the way such groups are now being disbanded.

The Sussex Police Authority has taken the decision to replace them with 'better, more effective, more flexible ways of the authority being able to listen to people's concerns and achieve best value'.

But Maureen Messer, chairman of the Lewes and Seahaven Police Community Consultative Group, has written back to say the consultation process about change over the last few months has been a sham.

There was nothing within a written report to the SPA presenting any views of the groups or that they had any say in the final decision.

She felt the decision had been rubber stamped.

And on the matter of best value, she added: 'Group representatives who are all volunteers giving their time and commitment to bring forward their community's and group's concerns to the notice of the SPA best value you had.

'I believe you have chosen a path that will inevitably leave many committed people with a nasty taste in their mouth. In the business world an old system is not thrown out until a proven new system is in a workable place.

'Public consultation is laudable but only if the consultants want to know about the problems and are willing to hear them.

'In the last year we have had a new Chief Constable, a new Deputy Chief Constable, new Superintendents, new Inspectors, new Sergeants and new police officers, some yet still in training.

'This has alienated the people from the communities as there are no longer recognisable names and faces working for them within their communities.

'Unless you have a magic formula with which to replace the PCCGs, to whom can these people take their concerns?'

But Mrs Messer said she would put herself forward to be a member of any group formed to speak up for the people which was fair and representative.