Elected police commissioners ‘will put public back in charge’, says May

1 Dec 10
Ministers have hailed plans for directly elected police commissioners as a 'bold shift of power'
By Vivienne Russell

1 December 2010

Ministers have hailed plans for directly elected police commissioners as a ‘bold shift of power’.

Launching the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill today, Home Secretary Theresa May said the plans would ‘place the public back at the heart of the drive to cut crime’.

She said: ‘For too long, the fight against crime has been tangled up in a web of centrally imposed red tape that has driven a wedge between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.’

Following a consultation exercise earlier this year, the first elections for police and crime commissioners will take place in May 2012. PCCs will be able to set local policing priorities and hold chief constables to account.

The Bill sets out the checks and balances that will be in place to scrutinise the PCCs’ actions. These include panels of councillors who will ensure the voice of communities are reflected in the process.

But the Association of Police Authorities criticised the Bill as the wrong response to people’s priorities.

Chair Rob Garnham said: ‘Where’s the evidence that the public want more elections, or more politicians? Where’s the evidence that bringing in police commissioners will cut crime?

‘Independent estimates suggest that new elections for police commissioners could cost the equivalent of 700 police officers. The government proposals for putting the police in the hands of a single elected individual could cost £101m over four years. People tell me they want to see costs cut and criminals caught, not expensive contests for new police chiefs.’

The Bill also contains provisions to change the Licensing Act to give more say to the public and local authorities. Councils will be given powers to restrict premises selling alcohol late at night. They will also be able to double fines imposed on premises that persistently sell alcohol to children.

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