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| Police Commissioners ‘Will Cause Chaos and Cost’ |
28-Jul-10
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| Government holds the line despite further criticism of practicalities surrounding directly elected individuals…
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A Police Authority Chair has launched a scathing attack on government plans to create Directly Elected Police and Crime Commissioners, claiming that the move will create “chaos and cost” at a highly vulnerable time.
Dave McLuckie, who presides over Cleveland Police Authority, said the proposals would create duplication, increase bureaucracy and lead to further expense.
Critically he believes the setting up of new Police and Crime Panels – consisting of councillors and other public representatives – to oversee the new elected commissioner would duplicate work currently carried out by Police Authorities.
Policing and Justice Minister Nick Herbert has told PoliceOracle.com that the government has consulted widely over the issue and had put appropriate checks and balances in place to ensure commissioners are accountable and cannot interfere with the operational autonomy of Chief Constables.
He maintains that senior officers are now warming to the idea of elected commissioners and that discussions with police professionals had been fruitful.
But Mr McLuckie urged the government to reconsider the plans “before forcing through proposals which could undermine the principles that have made British policing the envy of the world”.
The Chair said: “With one breath the government is suggesting the need to create single person control to improve accountability – which itself seems bizarre – and in the next goes on to say they will be subject to robust review by panels made up of local councillors, independent and lay members – essentially the same make-up as existing police authorities.
“It is not clear how these panels will be appointed, although there appears to be a suggestion that they should include councillors from all constituent wards, which would create bodies with huge numbers of members.
“Already it has been suggested that the cost of creating this system could be as much as £50 million but I suspect the real figure will be higher, taking into account the need to provide support not just to commissioners but also to the proposed panels.”
McLuckie added: “If it genuinely held out the prospect of improving accountability and delivering a better service there might be a case for it, but in reality this would create chaos, confusion, conflict and extra costs – with no improvements in service.”
The proposals for police reform – outlined in the Policing in the 21st Century consultation paper – have prompted a cautious response from some quarters.
The Association of Police Authorities (APA) has said there should be more time to discuss the proposals while ACPO President Sir Hugh Orde believes the practicalities of how the police will maintain operational independence must be established.
The Labour Opposition has confirmed that it will be opposing the policy when it is outlined in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill to be introduced in the autumn.
Shadow Policing Minister David Hanson believes the government will face a stiff battle with the legislation. He said: “There are so many holes in the government’s argument, in addition to a series of questions over costs.”
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