Labour’s PCC candidate calls for immediate review of Tony Hogg’s decision on Middlemoor move

Labour’s Police and Crime Commissioner candidate is calling for an immediate review of Tony Hogg’s decision on his Middlemoor move.

Tony Hogg decided just a few weeks ago to move his office less than one mile to what will be newly refurbished premises inside the Police HQ at Middlemoor. The cost of this is undisclosed, but is believed to be approximately £400,000. The lease on his existing premises that were inherited from the old Police Authority expires in November 2016.

The Chief Constable has already objected publicly to this plan saying that it “sends the wrong signal financially” and that it “may threaten the impartiality” of the PCC role.

Gareth Derrick, Labour’s candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner in Devon and Cornwall, said: “Throughout the whole of my military career I have known that winning the hearts and minds of people cannot be done from inside a fortress, although many have tried and failed”.

“I want this damaging decision stopped to allow me - if I am elected - to take a radically different approach. I will work collaboratively with the major Councils and other organisations across our region, to share office resources, reduce costs, and most importantly to help me and my team engage with the public. Without that, the role of the PCC is fatally flawed.”

“I have travelled all around the two counties meeting and talking with people and their views have been clear. There are many concerns about the realities of policing at the front-line, but there are also significant worries about their access to the police and that their voices are not being heard. The PCC has already presided over a withdrawal of public access to the police through station closures and an appalling phone service.  Now he wants to set his successor up in a fortress”.