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ACPO comment on operational independence of policing and the role of police and crime commissioners
The Government has taken account of the police service’s concerns about this substantial change and there is now both a protocol helping to define the two different roles and a strategic policing requirement focussing on important issues at national level
ACPO President Sir Hugh Orde said:
“The introduction of police and crime commissioners represents probably the biggest change to policing since 1829. For the first time a directly elected person, in the majority of cases on a party ticket, is introduced into the British policing model. That is why appropriate checks and balances are vital to preserving the impartiality of policing, underlining the independence of the chief constable to take professional decisions about the best way of keeping people safe.
“Of course there are potentially tensions in the relationship and clear, regular and sensible communication will be key to making it work. The Government has taken account of the police service’s concerns about this substantial change and there is now both a protocol helping to define the two different roles and a strategic policing requirement focussing on important issues at national level. Within that framework, chiefs and PCCs should have conversations about how to deliver the best possible service to the local community, balanced with the difficult and increasing task of dealing with threats through national policing. PCCs will have the critical role of holding chiefs to account for their decisions, and we absolutely expect them to do so in a robust, rational and challenging way.”
For more information contact
The ACPO press office can be contacted via 020 7084 8946/47/48 (office hours) or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is an independent, professionally-led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with government and the Association of Police Authorities, ACPO leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, co-ordinates the strategic policing response.
ACPO’s 329 members consist of 242 chief police officers from the home forces of assistant chief constable rank (commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, plus 66 senior police staff members from the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Non home forces such as British Transport Police have 21 chief police officer members and there are three members from the Service Police.