Gloucestershire has been recognised as possibly the top ‘green’ police force in the UK.
The Constabulary is the only force in the country to hold the environmental certification ISO 14001, the international standard for environment management systems. The PCC and Chief Constable were presented with a certificate by Lloyds Register, acknowledging the success in measuring energy consumption and reducing waste.
PCC Martin Surl used the occasion at the world renowned Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, to confirm his commitment to the local environment. He also announced the Constabulary is in the process of acquiring another 80 electric vehicles.
More than 20% of the force’s fleet will soon be powered by electricity with the target of 40% in five years.
Mr. Surl said,
“The Constabulary employs almost 2,000 people and as PCC I own many buildings and operate more than 400 vehicles. While I am Police and Crime Commissioner, Gloucestershire Constabulary will operate in as responsible and sustainable a way as possible.
“Electrification of the police fleet is well underway and will continue where operationally viable. Emissions will be an increasing element in the decision making process alongside cost and performance when vehicles are purchased.
“Gloucestershire is already the only force in the UK to hold ISO 14001 accreditation. Maintaining that accreditation and seeking new opportunities to reduce waste & pollution has been in my Police and Crime Plan since 2016”.
The PCC’s ‘A green and pleasant county’ policy, which is embedded in his Police and Crime Plan, can be read in full here. It can be summarised as follows:
- To explain the potential benefits of this commitment to the Constabulary, OPCC, partners and Gloucestershire
- To highlight work underway within the Constabulary and OPCC towards this
- To announce ambitious proposals for electrification of the Constabulary’s fleet
- To make people aware of the Police and Crime Plan’s commitment to A green and pleasant county and invite partner organisations to work with the Constabulary and OPCC in this area of work to benefit Gloucestershire.
Lloyds Register Environmental Systems Assessor Debbie Shaw said,
“It’s strategically important that the leadership gets involved in environmental management and sets the direction because they are the ones who hold the purse strings and all the other things that make things happen. Generally, in my experience, if the boss says this is going to happen, it generally happens.
“Nothing is going to change unless you change people’s behaviour. Electric cars are a great example of something that 10 years ago no-one was talking about being useful in a business context. But now, the commitments Martin’s made from a policing point of view are great and I’m also seeing construction sites with mobile plant that’s now electric which is really good.
“A green and pleasant county is a really good example of something the Constabulary doesn’t need to do; there’s no legal requirement but it’s a good thing to do.”
