Clause 1 - National Policing Plan
Police Reform Bill [Lords]
10:15 am
Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath, Conservative)
Does the Minister understand that Opposition Members are particularly suspicious, without having to erect a conspiracy theory, because of what police authorities and local authorities repeatedly tell us? Certainly, that is true in my area. Their freedom to decide what is best for their area is increasingly constrained by Government diktat. In other words, the whole question of being allowed to do only what the Government will provide for in the way of funding on a strictly ring-fenced basis—