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| Gloucestershire chief constable quits over police reforms | Gloucestershire chief constable quits over police reforms |
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| A chief constable who warned that budget cuts were pushing his force towards a cliff edge has resigned. | A chief constable who warned that budget cuts were pushing his force towards a cliff edge has resigned. |
| The chief constable of Gloucestershire, Tony Melville, stepped down, saying he had "grave concerns about some elements of the current police reform agenda". | The chief constable of Gloucestershire, Tony Melville, stepped down, saying he had "grave concerns about some elements of the current police reform agenda". |
| Melville, who had been a police officer for more than three decades, was appointed chief constable in Gloucestershire in January 2010. Since then he has had to oversee what he described as huge budget cuts, reduce police numbers and shut police stations. | Melville, who had been a police officer for more than three decades, was appointed chief constable in Gloucestershire in January 2010. Since then he has had to oversee what he described as huge budget cuts, reduce police numbers and shut police stations. |
| He said on Friday: "After a 34-year career in the police service, 10 of which have been as a chief officer, I have decided the time is right to leave. | He said on Friday: "After a 34-year career in the police service, 10 of which have been as a chief officer, I have decided the time is right to leave. |
| "I believe policing does need to change and that is why we have transformed our approach in Gloucestershire. However, I have grave concerns about some elements of the current police reform agenda, especially the election of police and crime commissioners in six months' time. | "I believe policing does need to change and that is why we have transformed our approach in Gloucestershire. However, I have grave concerns about some elements of the current police reform agenda, especially the election of police and crime commissioners in six months' time. |
| "I have therefore decided that I will not continue as chief constable under those new arrangements. I am stepping aside in time for the police authority to appoint my successor and ensure continuity for the incoming police and crime commissioner in November." | "I have therefore decided that I will not continue as chief constable under those new arrangements. I am stepping aside in time for the police authority to appoint my successor and ensure continuity for the incoming police and crime commissioner in November." |
| He said he was proud of his record in Gloucestershire. When appointed, he said, his role had been to ensure that Gloucestershire people were kept safe, confidence in the police was improved and running costs were cut. | He said he was proud of his record in Gloucestershire. When appointed, he said, his role had been to ensure that Gloucestershire people were kept safe, confidence in the police was improved and running costs were cut. |
| "Since my appointment, crime in Gloucestershire has fallen by 10%, confidence in the constabulary has increased by 17%, and we have developed and nearly finished implementing a plan, approved by external scrutiny, that meets the huge reductions in budget required." | "Since my appointment, crime in Gloucestershire has fallen by 10%, confidence in the constabulary has increased by 17%, and we have developed and nearly finished implementing a plan, approved by external scrutiny, that meets the huge reductions in budget required." |
| In January Melville said Gloucestershire was "potentially in the middle of a perfect storm". | In January Melville said Gloucestershire was "potentially in the middle of a perfect storm". |
| He said the force had lost funding for 63 officers, and a proposed council tax freeze meant it was cutting much deeper than had been intended when it began reviewing its spending. "So in a small force, a series of local decisions have combined to take us to a metaphorical cliff edge much more quickly than others," he said. "We have already closed a majority of our stations and a third of civilian staff have been let go." | He said the force had lost funding for 63 officers, and a proposed council tax freeze meant it was cutting much deeper than had been intended when it began reviewing its spending. "So in a small force, a series of local decisions have combined to take us to a metaphorical cliff edge much more quickly than others," he said. "We have already closed a majority of our stations and a third of civilian staff have been let go." |
| His warning was the starkest yet from a senior police officer since the home secretary, Theresa May, announced a 20% cut in Whitehall grants to the police spread over four years. | His warning was the starkest yet from a senior police officer since the home secretary, Theresa May, announced a 20% cut in Whitehall grants to the police spread over four years. |
| At a subsequent police authority meeting Melville spoke against the plans for the council tax freeze. He said he was already having to cope with cuts of £24m on a £103m budget. He said freezing the precept – the part of the council tax set aside for policing – was the equivalent of another £1.3m cut, which would put neighbourhood policing at risk. The authority went ahead with the freeze. | At a subsequent police authority meeting Melville spoke against the plans for the council tax freeze. He said he was already having to cope with cuts of £24m on a £103m budget. He said freezing the precept – the part of the council tax set aside for policing – was the equivalent of another £1.3m cut, which would put neighbourhood policing at risk. The authority went ahead with the freeze. |
| Responding to Melville's resignation, the chair of the Gloucestershire police authority, Conservative councillor Rob Garnham, said: "We are sad to see Tony leave the organisation and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank him for everything he has done for the constabulary. | Responding to Melville's resignation, the chair of the Gloucestershire police authority, Conservative councillor Rob Garnham, said: "We are sad to see Tony leave the organisation and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank him for everything he has done for the constabulary. |
| "We appointed Tony because we wanted and felt he would be capable of transforming the organisation – not just its structures, but also its culture and values. | "We appointed Tony because we wanted and felt he would be capable of transforming the organisation – not just its structures, but also its culture and values. |
| "He has not disappointed. A successful programme of change is well under way within the organisation and a significant amount of positive transformation has already taken place." | "He has not disappointed. A successful programme of change is well under way within the organisation and a significant amount of positive transformation has already taken place." |
| Lesley Williams, a Gloucestershire Labour councillor and a member of the police authority, said she had heard that other chief constables might be contemplating following Melville's lead. | Lesley Williams, a Gloucestershire Labour councillor and a member of the police authority, said she had heard that other chief constables might be contemplating following Melville's lead. |
| She said: "It's very disappointing. He has been a very positive influence on the constabulary since he joined. I think his approach to policing has been very enlightened and I'm sad to see him go." | She said: "It's very disappointing. He has been a very positive influence on the constabulary since he joined. I think his approach to policing has been very enlightened and I'm sad to see him go." |
| Williams said she shared Melville's concerns about the replacement of police authorities with elected commissioners. "It will make everything more overtly political. Commissioners will be thinking about the next election rather than policing issues that do not grab the headlines." | Williams said she shared Melville's concerns about the replacement of police authorities with elected commissioners. "It will make everything more overtly political. Commissioners will be thinking about the next election rather than policing issues that do not grab the headlines." |
| She said it was likely that a Conservative would get the commissioner's job in Gloucestershire, where the party dominates. | She said it was likely that a Conservative would get the commissioner's job in Gloucestershire, where the party dominates. |
| Williams added that it seemed ridiculous that one person would replace the 17 – nine county councillors and eight independent members – who currently sit on the authority. "How can one person do all the work that 17 currently do?" she said, adding that it would be even more difficult in places such as the far south-west of England, where one commissioner will oversee Devon, Cornwall and Scilly. | |
| Melville will leave the constabulary at the end of May. | Melville will leave the constabulary at the end of May. |