£40k fund for extra police patrols kept going but faces scrutiny

The Operation Dodford scheme has come under fire in recent months as Beds Police has struggled to muster up officers for additional shifts, leaving much of the Leighton-Linslade Town Council fund unspent.

Concerns have also been raised about the suitability of the scheme, as many believe that the force is charging LLTC for policing it should already provide.

Last week town councillors agreed to keep the fund going for another 12 months, albeit with a closer eye on its running.

Cllr Ken Ferguson told the LBO: “This agreement can be cancelled at any time and it will be up to the new council to decide what they wish to do when they see the effect(s) of (police and crime commissioner) Kathryn Holloway’s promised new policing arrangements.”

Mrs Holloway previously admitted she shares concerns over officer deployment in Leighton Buzzard.

The PCC told us that she would she would evaluate Operation Dodford “as the council should clearly receive what it pays for”.

Writing to the LBO last week, Cllr Amanda Dodwell said the council is not willing to make “rash decisions” on Operation Dodford following Mrs Holloway’s election earlier this month.