A new town centre policing hub was opened in Bedford yesterday (Thursday) after “years of negotiations” between the police and Bedford Borough Council.
In his manifesto, the police and crime commissioner (PCC), John Tizard (Labour), said he would “establish more police hubs in town centres, urban neighbourhoods, and larger villages” to improve “policing for neighbourhoods and with neighbourhoods”.
The hub at Bedford Bus Station is the first one to open since May’s PCC election, but does it count as a “win” for the new commissioner because the project was started before he was elected?
“I don’t see it’s a victory for me, I think it’s a victory for Bedford and the people of Bedford,” the PCC said. “It’s been a very long time in gestation, I have been pushing very hard to get it open over since I was elected.
“And what is great about the hub at the bus station is the genuine partnership between the police and the council. Because the council made the premises available and are covering business rates and rent.”
After the official opening, Bedford & Kempston MP Mohammad Yasin (Labour) congratulated “our police and crime commissioner John Tizard on this initiative.”
But Bedford mayor, Tom Wootton (Conservative), told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) on Monday (2 December) that this hub had two years of negotiation.
“We saw Festus [Akinbusoye, the former PCC] and then Mr Tizard,” he told the LDRS. “They’ve had a hell of a job getting it done, but now we hope that it’s going to be something really exciting.”
This conflict has raised questions about the transparency of media releases being issued by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) which some say should have recognised the work carried out before May’s PCC election.
“When I came in nothing was happening,” the PCC said. “Since I’ve been in we’ve actually made it happen, so I would take credit for that.
“And Yasin, his quote is right at one level. l would hope I wouldn’t take credit for things that others started. Clearly, anything that has happened since I came in I’m accountable for,” he said.
Mr Yasin’s office was approached for a comment, they said the MP was “happy with the quote as it stands”.
A spokesperson for Bedfordshire Police confirmed the hub would not have set opening times but instead “at least one officer would be based there each day”. However, “they may not be available at the hub if attending an emergency or are out patrolling the town centre”.
The hub is also set to be used for meetings, events and information sessions, details of which will be posted on the Bedford Community Policing Team’s Facebook page and Police.UK.
Flitwick hub
The PCC said a hub will also be opening at Ampthill’s Doolittle Farm office estate as a replacement for the hub on Flitwick’s High Street.
“But as I said in the manifesto, and as we said in the Police and Crime Plan, you don’t always necessarily need dedicated buildings or premises,” the PCC said.
“I think it’s the police being available – they can be sitting in libraries, community centres, even pop-ups at supermarkets. It’s about people knowing that at a certain time of day or in the week there’ll be police available for them to go and meet.
“But [officers] also need to be out talking on the streets too,” he said.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
with additional reporting by
Paul Hutchinson
Bedford Independent
