Will changes to Kirklees road policing cost lives?

CHANGES to road policing could cost lives, claims an insider.

As West Yorkshire Police reveal further details about the relocation of Huddersfield’s road policing team to Wakefield, the insider has raised grave concerns about the plans.

The Huddersfield team, currently based in Holmfirth, will move to Carr Gate which is on the side of the M62/M1 interchange near Wakefield along with Wakefield traffic police. Their counterparts from Halifax and Bradford will be based in Bradford. A date for the relocation is yet to be announced by the force.

These moves come as West Yorkshire Police look to save £70m from the budget over two years.

But the insider said: “The road policing team will be based at Carr Gate, so if there’s an accident in Slaithwaite, Holmfirth or Meltham, you can only guess how long it will take the officers to get to the scene, even if there’s a clear run.

“It’s going to also cost a fortune in fuel. The police may also lose the officer’s local knowledge.

“Everyone understands cuts have to be made, but not at the cost of lives.”

The unit will relocate to the Operational Support Division where the firearm and dog units are based.

Michael Downs, Chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “The organisation, following a full review, decided that it’s the most effective and the most efficient way to deploy police officers from Carr Gate.