Stop the Privatisation of 999 Control Centres, Put Public Service before profit

Our 999 emergency Control rooms are currently staffed by dedicated professional public servants, direct employees of the three emergency services, with a wealth of knowledge and experience and direct links and relationships with those first emergency responders to the scene, Police, Fire & Ambulance.

Remember when G4S made such a shambles of providing security for the Olympics that the army had to bail them out? [1] Well now the same private security firm could be in charge of handling emergency 999 calls here in Northamptonshire. [2] Putting life or death decisions into their hands is a frightening prospect.

Adam Simmonds, the police commissioner in charge of this decision, is elected by local people to serve us. Together we could launch a huge people-powered campaign to pressure him into rejecting this idea.

At the moment, police chiefs are scoping out how the G4S takeover could work - it’s not a done deal yet. Before Adam was elected in 2012 he made a strong commitment to 38 Degrees members not to privatise police services in Northamptonshire. He said:

“I have no intentions of privatising our police force and therefore I would be grateful if you would spread the word that this Candidate for PCC isn't interested in that agenda.” [3]
Together we could remind Adam of his promise, and show him that local people want this privatisation off the table. People-power works.

NOTES:
[1] The Telegraph: G4S - the firm behind London 2012 Olympics shambles - given police powers:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/supportservices/10070425/Timeline-how-G4Ss-bungled-Olympics-security-contract-unfolded.html
[2] The Telegraph: G4S could run 999 controls of three major British police forces:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/11975505/G4S-to-run-999-controls-of-three-major-British-police-forces.html
[3] This is a direct quote from an email sent from Adam Simmonds to 38 Degrees members in 2012.