The Association of Police Authorities (APA) is highlighting the crucial role of accountability in policing through a new leaflet called Who Polices the Police?, including the importance of ensuring that policing decisions are taken on behalf of the whole community, and not for party-political reasons.

The leaflet will be distributed to Chief Constables and other policing stakeholders across the country, to emphasise police authorities' role in putting communities at the heart of policing, and in ensuring that the police continue to do a better job on behalf of all communities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

APA Chairman Rob Garnham said: "Since police authorities were created in 1995, we have worked closely with police forces and partners such as local councils, to give communities a say in policing. Over this period crime levels have fallen significantly and successful new initiatives, such as neighbourhood policing, have been introduced. As a result, public confidence in the police is now increasing once more.

"Police authorities have a democratic mandate delivered through directly elected councillor members and our independent community members, including a magistrate member in each police authority, who provide checks and balances against party-politics. This balance has stood the test of time over many years and has delivered real benefits for communities. Police authorities are committed to ensuring these benefits continue; that we provide a system of governance and accountability that reflects local communities, and that the police continue to do a better job on behalf of everyone, no matter what the outcome of the general election.

"In recent months the APA and police authorities have taken on yet more responsibilities - for instance, we are working with the IPCC to make it easier for people to provide feedback on the police service they receive; we have new responsibilities in airports policing; we are taking an increasingly relevant role in the response to the Policing Pledge; and from this April police authorities will be responsible for the annual performance development review (PDR) of Chief Constables.

"At this time of heightened political interest in police authorities, it is useful to clarify our role, and the responsibilities we have in relation to governance of policing. But the fact remains that police authorities have an important job to do in making sure that local people have a say in policing. We are dedicated to working closely with those local communities and, whilst the political debates continue, we are getting on with the job in hand.

"February saw police authorities up and down the country setting police council tax at levels which deliver real value for money to communities, whilst protecting front line services. At a local level police authorities are working with forces on policing plans that deliver local communities policing priorities. Police authorities are determined that, in the tight financial climate, ensuring value for money across all areas of police business is more important than ever."