Police Federation slams proposal to include Rutland in Leicestershire Police name
The idea is being put forward by the Police and Crime Commissioner
Last updated 11th Feb 2022
Plans to change the name of Leicestershire Police to incorporate Rutland have been heavily criticised by the area's Police Federation.
The chair of Leicestershire Police Federation, Adam Commons, said he was angry the idea was even being discussed at a time when the force needed more officers, Tasers and other equipment.
Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has launched a consultation on a name change to Leicestershire and Rutland Police as "many communities in Rutland do not feel a natural affinity with Leicestershire Police".
Describing the idea as "a nonsense", Mr Commons said funds would need to be spent on vehicle livery, paperwork, uniform, leaflets and signage if the name was changed.
He said: "You can't cut 100 cops and then start talking about spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on a rebrand.
"It would be an enormous operation to rebrand the force.
"If you're going to cut numbers for officers, we are not going to be spending money on changing a name. Because we are going to have to spend money.
"It is not going to be free. Signs don't just fall off buildings and need replacing.
"Why do we need to do this? I don't understand it. With everything that is going on in our world - the pandemic, officers getting injured, everyone worried about the increasing cost of living - this is so unimportant."
Mr Commons added: "The name cannot be a priority.
"If we have got money to spend, it needs to go on equipment, training, vehicles, Taser capacity.
"If you were to ask the public, they would want us engaging with the communities, driving down knife crime, violent crime.
"It has made me angry. In the list of priorities in the policing world, I am just astounded that this has been suggested."
Responding to criticism from the Federation, which represents more than 2,100 officers, Mr Matthews said: "Rutland residents have repeatedly told me that they are disappointed not to be recognised in their police force's name.
"Everyone is entitled to an opinion, which is exactly why I am consulting people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to see if they support the idea of reinstating 'Rutland' into the Force's name - or not.
"I will review the responses to my survey and act accordingly."
Rutland, renowned as England's smallest historic county, has its own local authority but has not featured in the name of the area's police force since the 1970s.
In a message to local residents in both counties, the Conservative PCC said: "Rutland is a proud county with a strong sense of community and has long been associated with Leicestershire, and the two counties share much.
"I believe that a name change from Leicestershire Police to Leicestershire and Rutland Police would maintain its current connection with the City of Leicester but also remedy this perceived divide."