Statement on Outsourcing 23 August 2012

This week, Hertfordshire Police Authority has asked the Chief Constable to proceed with developing the business case that will ultimate give the back office services to G4S

I still believe that in something as fundamental as the provision of our police services, at least one other option should be considered and that should be an internal solution.  I don't believe that a full assessment can be made of the existing situation in Lincolnshire in less than a year and the failure of G4S to deliver for the Olympic Games throws doubt on their ability to provide a service for the people of Hertfordshire..

 Morale within the back-office services will be understandably be low.

Outsourcing to a private company will dilute the services we get from the police.  The men and women of the constabulary provide a service for the community with pride and diligence and this is something that would most certainly be lost.

I can foresee at some stage in the very near future G4S reducing salaries and increasing payouts to shareholders.

I repeat here that David Lloyd should have stepped down.  I feel he has undue influence on the members of Herts Police Authority.

He may feel that he will be the one to push this outsourcing through in November but victory in the PCC election is not a foregone conclusion, given the dissatisfaction amongst residents with the Conservative-led 

County Council's cuts in services and switching off street lights.

If I am elected, I will be looking at finding an alternative option to privatisation.  There are some fundamental services that should not be outsourced in this way and we need to protect our neighbourhoods from private companies.