Armed police from Wales may be deployed in Warrington

ARMED police from North Wales may be called to deal with incidents in Warrington under a unique new partnership.
Cheshire officers could also be sent to North Wales, as part of the arrangement.
The partnership between Cheshire Constabulary and North Wales Police should enable both forces to respond to incidents requiring armed officers faster, because the nearest firearms officers from either force can be sent, cutting travel time, it is claimed.
The two forces have taken the decision to work together to form a single Armed Policing Alliance.
Members of the armed alliance will be based at Winsford and St Asaph and at a new base close to incident hotspot areas along the Cheshire-North Wales border.
This is well located to allow easy access to the highway network – again cutting travel time.
When not attending firearms incidents, the officers will target travelling criminals using the roads network, and support general policing initiatives.
Head of Uniform Operations, Superintendent Beverley Raistrick said: “For frontline policing this joint working is unique in the North West.
“Working together will give both forces a stronger and more resilient armed policing service, while making the savings necessary to meet austerity budget cuts.
“We will have fewer firearms officers overall, but new working practices mean there will be no reduction in the Armed Response Vehicle cover.”
Incidents that require armed officers are infrequent, and it is very rare for shots to be discharged. But the need to ensure officers with the right skills are available to respond if and when such events do occur remains.
Natural waste will make up the full reduction of 16 officers by 2016 – all from planned retirements.