Survey opened on including Rutland in police force name
The police and crime commissioner told us last month it was being explored as a possibility
A survey has opened, looking for people's views on renaming Leicestershire Police, to include Rutland in the title.
It comes after Leicestershire and Rutland's Police and Crime Commissioner told Greatest Hits Radio last month it was being reviewed, to give the UK's smallest county more identity.
In the consultation description, Rupert Matthews says: 'Many communities in Rutland do not feel a natural affinity with Leicestershire Police. And this is not helped by the name of the force being ‘Leicestershire Police’. As I have said on many occasions I want a local force to build trust and confidence in their local communities and a service that local people connect with.
'This has not always been the case in recent history and there is much work to do to rebuild some of the trust that has diminished during this time. As a result of what I have been told, I believe one of the issues is a loss of local identity with the force and neighbourhood officers.
'I want to make long-lasting and positive changes to Leicestershire Police and one of the things I am able to do is develop the name of the force so that it has greater identity and resonance with all parts of the force area, whether in rural Leicestershire, Rutland and the City of Leicester.
'Rutland is a proud county with a strong sense of community and has long been associated with Leicestershire, and the two counties share much. I believe that a name change from Leicestershire Police to Leicestershire and Rutland Police would maintain its current connection with the City of Leicester but also remedy this perceived divide.'
Mr. Matthews says in the consultation that he would like to rename the force, but first needs to hear the views of residents.
The survey is open until Tuesday next week (15th February).