Essex residents are being asked to give their views on proposed changes that could see police forces across the country merged into larger organisations.

Roger Hirst, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) for Essex, is inviting comments on the proposed national changes to policing and what this means for Essex.

The government has published a White Paper, From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, which sets out plans to bring together existing police forces into larger organisations, with a stronger national approach. While local policing would still be delivered through Local Policing Areas (LPAs), these would sit within much larger, merged forces.

The government says these changes could improve consistency and efficiency across the country. However, they may also affect local accountability, community knowledge and the visibility of neighbourhood policing in Essex.

A National Police Service would be established to set standards and deliver central support functions, and later go on to cover serious and organised crime, counter-terrorism and fraud.

Mr Hirst said: “Policing works best when it is rooted in the communities it serves. These proposed national reforms could bring benefits in terms of consistency and efficiency, but it is vital we fully understand what they might mean for local accountability, neighbourhood policing and the strong connection between officers and the public in Essex.

“It is important to underline what the government is proposing to do. The reforms, if implemented in full, would completely change the way policing is carried out for decades to come. The potential impact should not be underestimated, that is why I felt it was important to launch a local survey.”

You can access the survey here: Proposed Police Force Mergers – Essex Public Survey

Rachel Nolan

In other policing news, Rachel Nolan has been selected as the preferred candidate for the role of Chief Constable of Essex Police. f

Mrs Nolan joined Essex Police as a police constable in 1998 and, over more than 27 years of service, has progressed through every rank in the force to become Deputy Chief Constable. During her career, she has held a wide range of operational and leadership roles across Essex and nationally.

The appointment is subject to a confirmation hearing by the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Panel.