Tony Hogg responds to the suggestion that police forces should consider sponsorship deals to boost resources

Devon and Cornwall PCC Tony Hogg has responded to a suggestion from Dorset Commissioner Martyn Underhill that police forces should consider sponsorship deals to boost resources. The idea has been put forward for discussion at the next regional PCC meeting at the end of May.

Tony Hogg says: “Martyn Underhill’s idea is an interesting one, and one that we will be discussing at the next regional PCC meeting at the end of this month (May). I am certainly not dismissing it, but an awful lot of work will need to be done to assess the full impact on the effectiveness, integrity and the independence of the police, and I know that Martyn appreciates that. However, in these tough economic times,  I wouldn’t be doing my duty for the people of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly if I wasn’t open minded enough to consider any ideas that might help to bring extra resources into the force.

Sponsorship is not new to policing and would be subject to rigorous guidelines and safeguards. I will be interested to hear opinions from the local parties involved in this, and will assess a groundswell of views before I decide whether this is something I would like to see go forward.” 

Tony Hogg
Police and Crime Commissioner, Devon and Cornwall