01 February 2002
Association chair Dr Ruth Henig said that although the APA welcomed many of the changes in the Bill, it gave too many powers to central government and did not go far enough in addressing problems with local accountability and control of policing.
Home Secretary David Blunkett, speaking to a conference of senior officers on January 29, revealed that tougher measures to combat antisocial behaviour in England and Wales – including the use of civilian auxiliaries for routine police tasks and blood-testing for drink-drivers – would be a key focus of government policy.
But Henig, in a thinly veiled reference to the Home Office's new powers to remove chief constables of forces failing to live up to the increasing national performance demands, said she would like to have 'seen more emphasis on local accountability'. She also argued that an increased role for bodies such as the APA would better serve the police than more government interference.
The Bill, published on January 25, revealed that the power to remove chiefs of underperforming or 'inefficient' forces would pass to the newly formed Police Standards Unit, which would also co-ordinate the move towards further national performance standards.
On the day that Blunkett announced a £20m sweetener to improve police pay and conditions nationally, he said that the new measures would 'be an effective power and a deterrent.'
But Henig said: 'Police authorities exist so that forces are accountable. This is essential to policing. I am disappointed the government does not share the view of the importance of [local] dialogue.'
Delegates at the conference told Public Finance there was serious concern among beat officers about the powers given to civilian staff, but that police chiefs welcomed the plan – providing it would be backed up by sufficient financing.
Senior officers also applauded the decision to allow complaints against the police to be dealt with in their entirety by the independent Police Complaints Commission.
PFfeb2002
