§ Lord Gainfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the future policing arrangements for Humberside.
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness BlatchMy right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment announced today that the county of Humberside would be replaced by four unitary authorities, with the area around Goole, in the present district of Boothferry, transferring to North Yorkshire.
In the light of this announcement, we shall need to consider whether to retain a separate Humberside police force, based on the four unitary authorities. Goole will be policed by the North Yorkshire force from the date of the local government reorganisation, in accordance with the provisions of Section 39 of the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994.
Our preference is to retain a separate Humberside force but before reaching a final decision we shall wish to consult the forces, police authorities and local authorities which would be affected by the decision. We shall also ask Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary to report on the viability of a police force based on the boundaries of the four unitary authorities. The consultation will begin immediately and we shall announce our final decision as soon as possible.