New magazine iN Hertfordshire published by Hertfordshire Police and Hertfordshire County Council divides opinion (From Watford Observer)

New magazine iN Hertfordshire published by Hertfordshire Police and Hertfordshire County Council divides opinion

8:10am Thursday 9th September 2010 in

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Critics have reacted with “astonishment” at the launch of a new “glossy magazine” published by Hertfordshire Police and the county council.

Free copies of iN Hertfordshire, which contains fashion, health and lifestyle advice, will be available in libraries, health centres and surgeries, shops, police stations and other sites across the country.

The first issue contains a breakdown of units in a variety of alcoholic drinks, fire safety tips for barbecues and financial advice for surviving the credit crunch.

The magazine comes from the Hertfordshire Strategic Alcohol Campaigns Group, backed by the police, county council and health service, and aims to provide information about keeping fit and healthy.

Chris White, Liberal Democrat leader at County Hall and a former member of the police authority, said: “These are times of austerity and we all have to count every penny. Why the police feel it is suitable to launch a glossy magazine that gives fashion advice is beyond me.

“If people want fashion advice they should buy a real magazine and I suggest that the police get back to doing their real jobs - policing our streets.”

However, the magazine, which costs 40p per copy including design and print, was seen as a cost effective approach to pass out information to groups of people who do not respond to “traditional” methods of advice, such as leaflets.

Hertfordshire County Council will fund the publication from a two-year budget and a police representative said it was hoped that by putting serious messages into “lighter” articles, more people would pay attention.

County councillor Keith Emsall, executive member for community safety, added: “I hope our readers find the advice from our experts both beneficial and engaging. With information on important issues such as how to keep yourself safe, happy and in good health, I’d encourage anyone to take a look and find out how to take full advantage of what Hertfordshire has to offer.”

What do you think of the magazine? Should the authorities have produced it when people are losing their jobs and massive cutbacks in services are being proposed? Read it here and leave a comment below.