Corporate Communications Spending By Northumbria Police

EDM number 1824 in 2010-12, proposed by Ronnie Campbell on 17/05/2011.
Categorised under the topic of Police.

That this House is concerned about Northumbria Police's massive spending on corporate communications and its failure to release serious crimes to the media; notes that the force is facing cuts of 34 million and the possible loss of 500 jobs; further notes that, in the last year, its annual corporate communications budget has risen from 1.5 million to 1.77 million, with the majority of these resources appearing to be targeted at improving the force's public image rather than telling the public what is actually happening; further notes an investigation by The Sunday Post newspaper which revealed that Northumbria Police releases less than one per cent. of crimes to the media and that the average delay is nine days; further notes that a wide range of serious crimes, including sex attacks, armed robberies and other serious crimes, are being held back from the media; believes this situation is of concern, given the importance of using the media to appeal for witnesses and warn the public about serious crimes in their area; and calls on the Chief Constable to reassess the amount spent on corporate communications and whether the information released is a true reflection of what is happening given the public are not told about more than 99 per cent. of crimes.

This motion has been signed by a total of 6 MPs.