Should 38 Degrees members campaign against G4S running police services?

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

38 Degrees members decide on the campaigns we run together. This is one of the many issues we could campaign on.

So this week 38 Degrees members in Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire are voting on whether or not we should campaign against G4S running police services in their areas.

At the moment, police chiefs are scoping out how the G4S takeover could work – it’s not a done deal yet.

In 2012, 38 Degrees members recorded the views of the Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) before they were elected. Here’s what they said in emails to 38 Degrees members:

The PCC for Northamptonshire, Adam Simmonds 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.”

The PCC for Nottinghamshire, Paddy Tipping said,

“I have pledged in meetings and on doorsteps across the county, that I will not privatise the police. I have no connection with companies that might bid to run police services and I do not believe that private companies should be involved. I have a strong record of listening to people and acting on their concerns. I will be a People’s Commissioner.”

Together we could remind Paddy and Adam of their promises, and show them that local people want this privatisation off the table.

People power works. Earlier in the year, Claire from Cambridge started a petition to stop the privatisation of her local library. Thousands of us got behind her and won! When 38 Degrees members come together, we make people power a force to be reckoned with.