MP questions use of private security staff at Garrison

12.00.00am GMT Fri 29th Feb 2008

Members of the Army

Colchester MP Bob Russell was today seeking urgent answers from the Government after it was revealed that 20 civilians have been recruited to provide security services at Colchester Garrison.

The Town's MP is seeking to Table Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Des Browne MP, to whom he has also written.

He said this morning: "It was only on Thursday afternoon that I had a meeting at the House of Commons with Mr Browne to discuss MOD personnel issues, and I expressed my concerns at that meeting over the continuing privatisation within the Ministry of Defence - but nothing was said by him or his officials about the news I heard over the weekend about the appointment of 20 civilians to provide security at the Colchester Garrison.

"I need to find out precisely what is going on, and to seek an explanation from Mr Browne as to why I was not told about this when I met him only a few days' ago."

He added: "I need to know if the 20 civilian security staff are to undertake the duties previously undertaken by uniformed MOD Police Officers. There may be a totally innocent explanation, but whatever it is I trust this is not a cost-saving exercise with the MOD replacing Police Officers with cheaper security staff provided by a private company."

Mr Russell explained: "The Government's privatisation of the Armed Forces is gathering pace, but while it may be OK for this to include things like catering and cleaning I do have grave reservations when it comes to providing security services for our Garrison.

"It comes after the huge reductions in the level of Ministry of Defence Policing at the Garrison, which I think has seen a reduction of something like 20 MOD Police Officers over the past two or three years. I believe they are now down to single figures, so that it is one aspect I am seeking answers from the Defence Secretary."

Mr Russell, who is a member of the Liberal Democrat Defence team, has previously raised in Parliament his concerns over the reduction in MOD Police at the Colchester Garrison. Last year he had a meeting with Defence Minister Mr Derek Twigg to express his opposition following a meeting he had with national officers of the MOD Police Federation. He is due to have a further meeting with the officials shortly.

Although he welcomed the opening last week of a new Police base within the Garrison to be shared by the MOD Police, Royal Military Police (red caps) and the Essex Police, Mr Russell said that this could not disguise the fact that the Garrison had lost around 20 MOD Police Officers. Their work within the Garrison housing and other areas outside the military bases is now having to be covered by Essex Police.

"Quite simply, this means that Essex Police are having to cover the whole of the non-military areas of Colchester Garrison which can only come at the expense of a lower Police presence in civilian communities in South Colchester."