Last October and November Liberal Democrats campaigned strongly against the G4S outsourcing planned by the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner. He has finally listened and scrapped the unpopular and inappropriate plan.

This is great news for the public and the many local workers affected by the plan, but the question now remains how will the Conservatives now balance the police budget?  The G4S plan was the “silver bullet” that was devised to deliver the budgetary savings that are needed to make the books balance.

Liberal Democrat County Councillor, Chris White (St Albans Central) said, “The Liberal Democrat team are watching the police budget very closely.  Significant savings need to be made, even more so now that Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner has appointed himself a Deputy which means Herts Police now have to find an extra twenty thousand pounds a year to pay for her two days a week.

“Front line police numbers must not be cut to balance the books, especially when the Crime Commissioner and his Deputy are pocketing £95,000 a year in salaries plus expenses.”

Police and Crime Commissioner candidates, Christopher Townsend (Hertfordshire), Rupert Moss-Eccardt (Cambridgeshire) and Linda Jack (Bedfordshire) have today united against the outsourcing of police services to G4S. Given recent events, such as the Olympics fiasco and the lack of public accountability they do not have confidence that G4S can handle police support work. Instead they are calling for a collaborative approach between Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, in order to provide cost efficient police support services.

Christopher Townsend believes the whole process regarding outsourcing has been mishandled from the start. “Whilst alternatives are possible at this stage, the vast majority of work has focused on an outsourcing arrangement with G4S. There is no developed Plan B, this is despite there being 2 years during which plans could have been developed and it is being left to Police and Crime Commissioners to pick up the pieces.” He added, ‘I don’t see how, after two years, there is only one option on the table? I feel badly let down by the existing leadership of the Hertfordshire Police Authority,’

Linda Jack, who warned against the doomed Beds CC outsourcing contract with HBS when she was Unison Branch Secretary said “I don’t see why the same savings allegedly offered by G4S taking over the support services cannot be made through the three services working together, after all, there will be no imperative to make a profit for shareholders.”

‘We are aiming to lead the way here, the key is working together across our 3 counties and that is why, along with my Lib Dem colleagues, I support this proposal,’ added Rupert Moss-Eccardt. “Unfortunately Conservative candidates are obsessed with privatising key public services regardless of whether it leads to the kind of chaos we saw in the run up to the Olympics, we say hands off our police forces.”

Officers from St.Albans St.Peters Ward Neighbourhood Team are holding a meet & greet session at St.Albans Police Station on 17th September 2012 between 1600 -1900 hrs.

This is an opportunity for local residents to pop Into the Police Station to express their concerns / issues they have in Town Centre or Clarence Ward . Should you wish to attend there will be an officer at the front desk to escort you into the meeting room. Please could you also confirm your attendance by contacting PC1850 WOODS or PCSO 6594 LAW at St. Albans Police Station by dialling the Police Non- Emergency Number 101.

We will also be there to give any crime prevention advice and assist in any other neighbourhood matters.

Lib Dems in Hertfordshire have pledged to oppose any handover of policing functions to G4S

Chris White, Herts County Council Lib Dem Group police spokesperson, said: ‘The astonishing news that Herts, Beds and Cambridgeshire constabularies will be pressing ahead with this privatisation is likely to lead to a collapse in public confidence in policing in the three counties.

‘Even before the Olympics fiasco, the record of G4S was questionable. Policing is a public sector service and should not normally be handed over to private companies – especially private companies which are known not to deliver. I don’t want to see the army being called in to Hertfordshire to perform basic policing.

He added: ‘There is little doubt that this will be a key election issue on 15 November.’

Lib Dems in Hertfordshire have expressed concern over news that the constabulary computer has been hacked into by people supposedly supporting controversial campaigner Julian Assange.

Chris White, police spokesperson for the Hertfordshire Lib Dem Group, said: ‘The public will rightly be very worried that this could have happened at all in an organisation which should by definition by conscious about security and cybercrime.

‘I welcome the fact that there is to be an investigation, but it is vital in these cases that any inquiry is independent and the results – as far as practicable – are made public. It is too easy for organisations to give themselves a pat on the back in these circumstances and breathe a complacent sigh of relief.’

He added: ‘The public will need assurance that private data has not been stolen or tampered with and that their communications with the police will not be posted on the Internet by misguided Assange supporters. They will want to know what precisely is going to be done to make the system safe in future.’

Follow this link for the latest on policing in St Albans Central:

http://snt.herts.police.uk/aCMS/team.php?nptID=54&dID=6

Following the Home Secretary’s announcement that the post of Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), due to be elected on 15th November 2012, could receive as much as £100,000 per year, (more…)

For the last few months Police Community Support Officers have been receiving training for powers to enable them to issue fixed penalty notices for traffic offences. Introduced as a response to calls for the Constabulary to take action against antisocial motoring, and to enhance the impact of PCSOs on community safety, these powers are now being rolled out across the county. (more…)

The announcement that elections for police commissioners will be delayed from May to November 2012 have been welcomed by Hertfordshire Lib Dems, who continue to oppose the idea of elected police commissioners.

Commenting on the announcements, Ron Tindall, the Hertfordshire Lib Dem spokesperson on policing, said:

“I am glad that the Lib Dems in the Lords and in Government managed to make the Conservatives see the massive flaw in re-organising policing three months before the biggest policing event in the nation’s history to date – the 2012 Olympics.

“Delaying the elections until November also means that they will not be as politicised as they would be if held at the same time as other elections. The likelihood that policing will become more politicised remains one of our biggest objections to the whole idea of electing police commissioners.”

23 September sees the launch of the theft deterrent SmartWater by St Albans City and District Community Safety Partnership, as part of a wider burglary reduction and prevention campaign across the county.

SmartWater is a theft deterrent which uses state-of-the-art forensic technology to protect homes and businesses from criminals.

Each SmartWater system contains a unique DNA-style forensic code which is simply dabbed into the nooks and crannies of your valuables. The SmartWater codes are stored on a secure database together with the owner’s details, making them uniquely identifiable.

SmartWater can also be used to spray intruders with an invisible DNA marker which provides police with evidence a suspect was there.

Inspector Ruth Dodsworth, Neighbourhood Inspector for St Albans, said: “We are delighted to be working with SmartWater and local residents to help them protect their property and keep burglars at bay.

“Anyone who is brought into custody in Hatfield will automatically be scanned for traces of SmartWater which remains on clothes and skin for a considerable amount of time.

“I also hope this sends a clear message to would-be criminals – don’t bother, as we will be able to trace you and bring you before the courts.”

Once dry, SmartWater is virtually impossible to remove and any traces will glow under ultra-violet light. SmartWater can link criminals to the crime scene and property back to its owner.

Hundreds of SmartWater systems are being given to householders across St Albans city and district, alongside quick and easy crime prevention tips for householders to help protect their possessions.

SmartWater Chief Executive, Phil Cleary, said: “We are delighted to be working with St Albans Community Safety Partnership on this crime prevention initiative which will not only provide reassurance to local residents but also act as a powerful deterrent to criminals.”

“SmartWater is well known to the criminal fraternity as it has successfully been used to convict more than 1,000 offenders to date. SmartWater also maintains a 100% conviction rate, having never lost a case when its evidence has been presented in court.”

Police officers across the whole of Hertfordshire have been briefed to check property for traces of SmartWater and other property markings, as well as checking it against the National Mobile Property Register (www.immobilise.com to the public). There is also proactive police work taking place at this time.

Members of the public can also register their valuables on the free online site www.immobilise.com, and this can help police recover possessions if they are lost or stolen.