Surrey Police have pulled out of a scheme which could have seen large parts of the force run by a private firm, writes Meg Kiseleva.
Surrey Police Authority confirmed it was ditching plans last week Under guidance from the Home Office, West Midlands and Surrey Police had advertised contracts worth £1.5bn to private companies to run their services.
Unite, whose police force members opposed the plans, said it would have meant putting core policing functions, including 999 call handling, into the hands of profits-first companies.
Peter Allenson, Unite national officer, said: “At last good sense has prevailed over sheer madness.
“We now expect the West Midlands Police Authority to do the same.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here