One of the country's biggest police vehicle sponsorship deals was thrown into controversy today amid claims from rank-and-file officers that it made them a laughing stock.
All 80 police cars, vans and motorcycles in the five Bradford police divisions now carry the slogan "in partnership with Coral Windows" after the Bradford double-glazing company paid £45,000 to the cash-strapped force.
At the official unveiling of the fleet this week the move to secure outside financial backing was heralded by police chiefs as a "trail blazing" way of helping reduce crime.
But one officer, who did not want to give his name, said having vehicles emblazoned with a double-glazing company's name had caused anger and embarrassment among colleagues.
And today, Councillor Andy Mudd, (Lab, Keighley West), one of the Bradford members of the West Yorkshire Police Authority, said the partnership would need to be carefully scrutinised to check whether public confidence was being undermined.
The officer said: "Every time I walk past one of the vehicles I hang my head in embarrassment. Every colleague I speak to about this sponsorship is shaking their head in bewilderment. It is a mixture of anger, frustration and embarrassment. The police has sold its soul for a few pieces of silver.
"Where is it all going to end? What is the next stage - taking the blue flashing lights off the top and replacing them with a phone advertising a pizza company?"
Councillor Mudd said there was some substance to fears that the police's authority and impartiality could be undermined by sponsorship deals.
"Having said that, if it's the only way to bring in much-needed funding it may be something we have to live with.
"If it was found that confidence in the force was undermined as a result of this deal I would expect a re-think. But I don't think there is sufficient experience or evidence yet."
Roger Benn, chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Federation, said there had been no official complaints from officers about the sponsorship deal.
But he said: "It is ludicrous that the force is so under-funded it has to look at the idea of sponsorship. However, I can understand initiatives that try to keep bobbies on the beat."
The Coral Windows deal brings the number of sponsored police vehicles in West Yorkshire to 100 - more than any other force in the country.
Police authority chairman Councillor Neil Taggart said any sponsorship deals needed to be looked at very carefully.
"Police forces are forced into other ways of generating money but it is clear that we have to show the police are independent. This sponsorship deal is not promoting a particular company but the public perception may well be different."
The sponsorship deal is intended to promote the British Board of Agrement's double-glazing security standards which are recommended by West Yorkshire Police and the BBA logo is also included on the police vehicles.
Operations director at Coral Windows, Kevin Ashcroft said the company had worked closely with West Yorkshire Police to meet the force's requirement for security standards by attaining BBA certification.
He said the sponsorship deal was an opportunity for both parties to benefit from getting the message across.
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said under the Police and Magistrates Act, the force was allowed to generate one per cent of its budget through sponsorship.
He said: "Sponsorship helps us provide a good, value for money service to the public.
"This is especially important when faced with financial constraints as we are not only this year, when we have had a freeze on recruitment, but next year, when the budget which has been set is £7 million less than would have been required just to stand still.
"Our continuing success in building good, working partnerships, is something which we are proud of and which benefits the community as a whole. This particular scheme directly supports and improves policing in Bradford."
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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