On Privatisation

All candidates are being asked whether they will privatise police services.

Privatisation of Devon and Cornwall police services is not on my agenda. And with regard to the principle underlying question here, that of the possibility of making police staff redundant and then using a private sector company, like G4S, to do the paperwork, that will not happen if I am elected. This commitment is a matter of principle.

Which means that companies like G4S do not feature in my plans. Not that I have anything personal against G4S. I am not on a crusade here. I have other priorities. However, just to make things doubly clear, I have no connections with any companies that might conceivably be offered police contracts.

Does the same apply to crime and other investigative work, forensic work, control room and custodial duties, preparation of cases for trial, and so forth? The answer is yes within reason. For instance the police use independent expert companies sometimes for facial recognition type analysis on CCTV. Be aware that I am not going to make blank cheque type pledges that would tie the hands of myself or the Chief Constable. Would I ever have a private company handling police cells? No. And I am extremely unlikely to privatise forensic services. They tried that in America and it was an utter catastrophe. I repeat I am against privatisation. But more specific pledges are inappropriate. I do not dislike the private sector. They are people too. Indeed I have spent almost my entire life working in the private sector.