COMMUNITY groups in Bexley are being urged to fight back against plans to kill off the organisation which holds the borough police to public account.

Graham Holland, who chairs the Bexley Police/ Community Consultative Group (BPCCG) claims it has been "stitched up" in a deal between Bexley's borough police commander Chief Superintendent Robin Merrett and the Bexley Community Safety Partnership.

Mr Holland is now trying to rally support for the BPCCG and is urging all member groups to attend a meeting on Monday at the civic offices in Bexleyheath Broadway at 7.30pm and make their feelings known.

But Mr Merrett has told News Shopper there is no intention to eliminate BPCCG and Mr Holland has misunderstood the proposals.

In December all three groups met to discuss the working arrangements between police, BPCCG and the safety partnership for the next year.

But Mr Holland says when he arrived, he discovered the safety partnership and Mr Merrett had met earlier during the day and had decided their own plans for the meeting.

He accused them of presenting BPCCG with a fait accompli in which the safety partnership would take over BPCCG's role and its funding.

Mr Holland says this would eliminate any independent accountability and the voice of the public.

But Mr Merrett said this was not the case and the proposals would still allow for independently chaired consultative group meetings where the public would be able to quiz the borough commander and other community safety partnership members.

He said the Metropolitan Police Authority has already decided to give consultative group funding to safety partrnerships London-wide.

Mr Merrett added: "Under our proposals, cash would be used to improve and extend consultation and the partnership would provide the administrative support.

"Safer Neighbourhoods policing has dramatically changed contact between police and public."