Police reform plans outlined

Plans to introduce directly elected police commissioners could divert money away from frontline services, council leaders have warned.

As the Home Office set out its proposals for police reform this week, the LG Association questioned whether the time was right for structural changes and new elections, given the current economic situation.

The government’s consultation paper sets out plans for a complete overhaul of the local control of police forces. Police authorities would be scrapped and replaced by directly elected police and crime commissioners.

The commissioner would set priorities for the force and would hire and fire chief constables. The chief constable would have operational independence, with the commissioner holding them to account for meeting the force’s priorities. Commissioners would be elected for every police force outside London, beginning in May 2012, and would serve four-year terms.

The prime minister, David Cameron, said: “By replacing invisible police authorities with directly elected police and crime commissioners, we can forge a direct link between the police and the public.”

However, Cllr Richard Kemp, vice-chair of the LG Association, said the consultation paper did not delve deep enough into the idea of directly elected commissioners. He said introducing new elections could cost the same as 700 police officers.

“If the police are to be truly held to account at local level, then councils must be at the heart of any new system,” said Cllr Kemp.
“Councils already have democratically elected councillors overseeing community safety, each of whom are scrutinised and held to account by that authority.

“The reintegration of police oversight into council structures is not only the most cost effective solution, the measure would require minimal legislative changes, drive out duplicate spending and deliver efficiency savings.”

Other proposals in the consultation paper include greater collaboration between police forces; more use of local volunteers; and a revised ‘common sense’ approach to health and safety in the police service. Responses are invited by 20 September