The political figurehead for Lincolnshire’s police force is out to prove that all parts of the county are served equally – and stands by his verdict that ‘two-tier policing’ does not happen here.
Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones said he wants to boost public confidence in the force, which has suffered from under funding for decades.
Mr Jones told members of the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel that he was particularly determined to ensure that areas in the south of Lincolnshire – where critics have aired frustrations – are being represented effectively.
At a meeting earlier this month, the PCC said: “If you live in Crowland, you don’t necessarily even think of Lincolnshire as the place you receive your services. You go to Peterborough hospital. You tend to cross the border to get things.
“You don’t necessarily feel that large an affinity to our county. So, we want the people of Crowland, Long Sutton, Sutton Bridge and everywhere else – Stamford, Bourne – feel that these services are for them, we listen to their concerns and that ultimately they are involved, at an appropriate level, in a way that suits them in that not just decision-making but also in the delivery of the services.”
Mr Jones said there was no evidence in Lincolnshire of two-tier policing – an argument that some people are dealt with more harshly than others and often cited by groups who feel police are soft on minority groups.
South Holland and the Deepings MP Sir John Hayes has said he believes this is a national trend.
Mr Jones said: “I’ll let others worry about the arguments around two-tier policing. If somebody provides me with evidence of it, then obviously there’s mechanisms for complaints processes to be looked at.
“But as a point of principle I don’t believe it’s developing a two-tier policing system by making sure that you listen to the voices of the residents of the county to make the services work for them.”
