07 November 2003
Local government leaders have warned ministers that the latest proposals to make police forces more accountable risk 'reinventing the wheel' and undermining the work of councils.
Sir Jeremy Beecham, chair of the Local Government Association, said Home Office proposals to establish community advocates to oversee the work of police forces should not bypass local authorities.
'We believe that directly electing representatives to serve on a range of fragmented public bodies would blur, rather than improve, local accountability. We are willing to explore options that will ensure councillors, with their unique broad remit to secure the wellbeing of local people, can help improve police accountability to the public and engage the community in this process,' he said.
Beecham's view was echoed by Dennis Reed, chief executive of the Local Government Information Unit, who said community advocates would create an 'unnecessary layer of officialdom'.
'We already have well-established electorally accountable community advocates. They are known as local councillors,' he said. 'The new community advocates may take years to register with local communities. The danger would be that there could be more low-turnout elections and the new posts would undermine local authorities, without being successful in themselves.'
Launching the consultation paper on the proposals, Policing: building safer communities together, on November 4, Home Secretary David Blunkett said he wanted a 'deeper, stronger connection' between police forces and the communities they serve.
'I want to see the police commander of the future with much more power to take the decisions on the ground that make a difference, with the backing of local residents who feel they can make their voice heard,' he said.
Home Office research accompanying the paper showed that police authorities, which currently oversee the work of police forces, are not a visible presence in communities, and people have little awareness and understanding of their role.
But 79% of respondents agreed that the police should try harder to find out what people thought of the service they provide, while 67% said they should have more of a say in the way the local police serve them.
The consultation period closes on January 27 next year.
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