I refer to the extraordinary plea by Mr Hurley, the Surrey Police Commissioner of Crime, for more money for the police services (no longer a force!) using propaganda more reminiscent of a modern day Dr Goebbels (In Danger, January 15).
It is extraordinary simply because of his department's appalling track record while, at the same time, identifying himself with past successes attributable entirely to the police, and not his department.
On a personal level he has failed to pursue police misconduct by refusing to lean on the Reigate and Banstead CCTV department to release video evidence that would have identified the driver of a hit-and-run incident that resulted in the demolition of 3 cars.
In addition, he refused to intervene with Epsom Police who would not acknowledge a report or accept details of the hit-and-run incident (Nork Way junction with Fir Tree Rd), thereby artificially avoiding another crime statistic.
If you examine the Epsom and Ewell Borough Council's breakdown of police costs for the borough, none is given on the rates demand. Depending on whom you ask within Mr Hurley's department the running costs vary between £250K and £2 million pa. In an interview in Surrey Life several months ago, and on his own admission, he avoids the normal vetting procedures for surrounding himself with recruits among his ex-copper colleagues. He fails to see himself as rectifying the several operational wrongs within the Surrey Police service. An insignificant number of the public voted him in, as generally applied to similar appointments throughout the UK which has led to a widespread rejection of this additional bureaucratic add-on to police costs.
Frankly, if Mr Hurley is so troubled by police cuts, instead of improving efficiency and conduct within the police services, then he should do the decent thing and sacrificially close down his department. He certainly should not fan the flames of criticism directed at his department by raising his head above the parapet voicing fears in order to get more money made available to his department and the police service. His appointment exists to improve their performance and not act as a mouthpiece for more money and associating himself with police successes.
Dr Edward Willhoft
Epsom
- Send your letters to: letters@epsomguardian.co.uk
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