Madeleine Kirk: 'Drax costs should not be burden on local residents'

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 15th Sep 2006

15/09/06- Letter to York Press

Sir,

Phil Willis MP is right to argue that the costs of policing the Drax protests should not be borne by the local residents (MP: Why we should not pay for Drax camp police, Sept 15th).

I have heard reports from residents that York did not receive its usual level of policing during the protests- something that will particularly have impacted on the more rural communities around the city. In itself this is bad enough, but it would be scandalous should North Yorkshire Police have to foot the entire bill.

North Yorkshire police will also, no doubt, end up paying for Labour's abandoned merger plans the costs of which remain unclear. Again these costs will fall upon local taxpayers. It is not acceptable for the government to constantly introduce initiatives and abandon them leaving local people to pick up the tab.

It is vital that the government works rapidly to expand the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in order that in future large scale protests can be policed properly and leave local forces to protect the residents who pay for them.

Yours sincerely

Madeleine Kirk, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for York Outer