Politics Have No Place in the Police

Local campaigner Julia Cambridge condemns propaganda on the Council Tax

Derbyshire Constabulary send out controversial plans, on behalf of the Council, under the guise of a 'Good news story.'

Chesterfield residents have been left questioning the relationship between Derbyshire Police and the Labour run Borough Council after a press release to promote the Council's controversial plans to bulldoze a much loved leisure facility, and rebuild a smaller centre with shared facilities, has been sent to over 600 people who have unwittingly signed up to receive 'Derbyshire Alerts' from the police.

The email alert was sent to residents yesterday under the heading 'Replacement for Queens Park Sports Centre' and outlined the council's plans for the proposed development.

Chesterfield Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson Julia Cambridge was contacted by angry residents. Speaking about the Derbyshire Alert she said: 'This is a total misuse of police resources and I will be asking Labour's Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Charles to explain why a community crime webpage has suddenly become a mouthpiece for the council to promote a contentious planning proposal. The council is Labour-run and the PCC is Labour. This mixing of agendas is exactly what people feared might happen if you bring politics into policing.'

The accusation that the alert looked like a rubber stamp of approval for the controversial plans was made worse when Kate Bowyer, the Partnership Communications Manager at Derbyshire Police, was contacted about the email alert. She explained that they had a close working relationship with the policy officers at Chesterfield Borough Council and were happy to put out the email as it promoted a 'good news story.'

Julia Cambridge: 'Who are Derbyshire Police to decide what is, or isn't, a 'good news story' from the council? In this case over a thousand local residents have signed an online petition, run by a local campaign group 'Save Our Leisure Centre,' against the very plans promoted by the police on behalf of the council. Surely the purpose of alerts is to give advice on crime prevention and warnings of criminal activity.

'This brings politics dangerously close to local policing and I am asking PCC Alan Charles if he sees this as an appropriate way to use the county's resources or a cosy political alliance to promote his party's policies.'