Richard recently had a catch up meeting with PCC, John Tizard.
Speaking afterwards, he said:
I had a very productive meeting with Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner recently when topics ranged from the spate of anti-social behaviour in Biggleswade, to firearms licensing, to longer term issues such as the amalgamation of police forces being proposed by the Labour government.
John and I have had our differences, but he has certainly always been willing to listen to the concerns of rural Bedfordshire residents and I appreciated his support for efforts to get shotgun licensing processes improved.
The government is getting rid of the role of Police and Crime Commissioners in favour of a committee based system overseeing the work of Chief Constables. If there are to be fewer police forces - for example, Bedfordshire Police being merged with Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire to create one force - then perhaps a committee system will enable more communities to have a voice in shaping strategy. We would however lose the great strength of the PCC system whereby there is an identified individual and it is easier to hold him or her to account.
