LEADING the way in tackling climate change is Hertfordshire Constabulary. It has become the first police force in the country to sign up to the nationally-recognised Nottingham Declaration. Chief Constable Frank Whiteley and Hertfordshire Police Authority

LEADING the way in tackling climate change is Hertfordshire Constabulary.

It has become the first police force in the country to sign up to the nationally-recognised Nottingham Declaration.

Chief Constable Frank Whiteley and Hertfordshire Police Authority chairman Stuart Nagler have put their names to the declaration, acknowledging the increasing impact climate change will have on the local community and committing to tackle the causes and effects of a changing climate on Hertfordshire.

The Nottingham Declaration is supported by 320 local authorities across the country so far - including Hertfordshire County Council - but Hertfordshire Constabulary is the very first police force to do so.

The declaration forms part of the Constabulary's new Be Smart, Be Green campaign for staff, which has the ultimate target of reducing carbon emissions by 5.1 per cent by 2012.

Efforts will be focused on business travel, commuting, buying office supplies and police equipment and energy use.

"Not only do we have a social responsibility to introduce 'greener' ways of working, but environmental sustainability and reducing carbon emissions are necessary steps, outlined in the Policing Plan, for the Constabulary to continue to function efficiently in the coming years," said James Hurley, director of resources at Hertfordshire Constabulary. "We may have a long way to go, but every small change we make can together make a big difference for the future.

"I hope Hertfordshire residents will feel reassured that their police force is playing its part - balancing environmental considerations with economic efficiency."

Mr Nagler said: "Climate change is becoming an increasingly serious problem and something we need to act on now.

"It is really important that we take action now, make the necessary steps forward to reduce carbon emissions by 2012 and maintain a well-managed, efficient police force in the years to come - something the people of Hertfordshire have rightly come to expect."

Work has already started to bring the Constabulary's green policies up to date, including an automatic overnight shutdown of around 75 per cent of the force's computers, helping to save an enormous amount of energy.