MP challenges Home Secretary over Colchester Police numbers

12.00.00am GMT Mon 19th Feb 2007

The Home Secretary has agreed to look at police numbers in Colchester after being challenged in the House of Commons this afternoon (Monday) by the town's MP Bob Russell who said that the number of Ministry of Defence Police Officers had been cut by 40 per cent.

Mr Russell said that the cut in MOD Police, who traditionally have policed the areas of Colchester Garrison including some 1,200 family houses occupied by soldiers and their families, had impacted on Essex Police who were now having to deploy Officers into the Army areas from elsewhere.

Responding, Home Secretary Dr John Reid said that he would need to check the position as described by Mr Russell. Before coming Home Secretary Dr Reid was Secretary of State for Defence.

Afterwards Mr Russell said that the number of MOD Police Officers had been cut from 20 to 12. The decision to deploy Essex Police Officers into the Army areas to compensate for the MOD cuts meant that policing levels across South Colchester were affected. This involved Prettygate, Shrub End, Berechurch, Harbour and New Town Wards.

Liberal Democrat Mr Russell has already met national officers of the Ministry of Defence Police Federation and last month met Defence Minister Mr Derek Twigg and officials at the Ministry of Defence to discuss the cuts in MOD Police numbers at Colchester.

Mr Russell is a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee. He is also a graduate of the Police Service Parliamentary Scheme.