MPs have called for a full debate and vote on the future of police forces after the Essex Police Authority voted unanimously against a merger with neighbouring forces.
The 17 members of the authority voted in favour of Essex Police remaining a stand-alone force at a meeting on Monday.
Rayleigh MP Mark Francois said: "There is virtually no support among the people of Essex for abolishing the Essex Police force and merging it into some remote East Anglian constabulary. Not only are the all-party police authority opposed to this, but there is now cross-party opposition.
"This is an opportunity for Essex MPs of all parties to put aside their normal partisan differences and to fight to preserve the police force which has fought to protect us."
The Government wants forces to have at least 4,000 police officers. Essex has 3,230. It claims that merging neighbouring forces would foster better collaboration, particularly regarding terrorism and cross-border crime. It is proposed that Essex merge with at least two neighbouring forces.
Published Wednesday, November 30, 2005
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