Sally Keeble challenged to stand up for Northants Police force

8.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 22nd May 2006

Andrew Simpson and the Lib Dems have launched a petition to save Northants Police

Liberal Democrat Borough Councillors have called on the Council to oppose the proposed merging of Northamptonshire Police with other forces in the East Midlands and asked local MP's to vote against the Governments plans.

Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson for Northampton North Cllr Andrew Simpson said "The Governments proposals for merger will do nothing to improve local policing in Northampton it is all driven by targets to tackle international terrorism and organised crime rather than local ones."

The Lib Dem Group are proposing a motion to Monday's full council which will seek all party support for the position of Northamptonshire Police Authority in not agreeing to voluntary merger. It also calls for the Council to oppose the merger and asks local MP's to take a similar position.

Cllr Trini Crake who is proposing the motion said "The cost of amalgamating the East Midlands forces is likely to lead to cuts which will undoubtedly affect the Police's ability to be able to respond to local needs and deal with the low level crimes that blight people's lives on a daily basis".

Cllr Andrew Simpson continued "When the bill comes to Parliament it could be defeated if around 40 Labour MP's vote against it - I urge Sally Keeble to be one of those MP's and to put the interests of Northampton first in defending our police service".