Member Article

'Superforce' Plans Under The Spotlight On Tyne Tees

Controversial plans for a shake-up of England’s forty-three police forces, which could lead to a “superforce” in the North East, will be under the spotlight tonight on a programme on Tyne Tees.

Studio guests on tonight’s Around The House – Tyne Tees’ political programme with Gerry Foley – include Sunderland South MP Chris Mullin (Lab), Baroness Maddock, the Liberal Democrat peer and Northumberland county councillor, and Nick Herbert MP, a former Parliamentary candidate for Berwick and now the Conservative Party’s spokesman on police reform. Gerry Foley will also be talking to die-hard Geordie and Newcastle United fan Sir Brian Briscoe, who’s preparing to step down from the top job in local government, after ten years as Chief Executive of the Local Government Association.

His departure comes at a time of uncertainty, with plans for a major reorganisation of local authorities, and rows over the level of Government grants to the North East. There’s also a special report - ahead of next week’s report by an all-party group of MPs - on how local shops in the region are standing up to the power of the superstores. Reporter Helen Ford visits the town of Hexham and talks to John Wright, the vice-chair of the Federation of Small Businesses. Around The House is at 11.30pm tonight on Tyne Tees Television.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .