A Cornish Police Force?

My thoughts in the West Briton by Loveday Jenkin Mebyon Kernow PPC

Police numbers in Cornwall are at a critical level with police officers and PCSO numbers declining but the cost of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office increasing. In the 1960s, prior to setting up the Devon and Cornwall force, Cornwall had its own dedicated Police service with a Cornish administration and infrastructure but now we don’t even have control over our own 999 service or budgets. Mebyon Kernow opposed the Police and Crime Commissioner role with its lack of democratic accountability and associated costs. We call instead for a return to a dedicated Cornish Police force with more visible policing in Cornwall particularly in the rural areas rather than money spent on backroom services based in Exeter. We also believe that we need to create a call centre for all Cornwall’s blue light services based in Cornwall so that those who send out emergency services know the difference between places such as Carnkie, Redruth and Carnkie, Wendron and between Hayle and Helford or that Carn Brea Village and Brea Village are on different sides of the hill! Joint working between the blue light services in Cornwall would save money and provide a better service for residents within our peninsula.