The Chair of Cleveland Police Authority has warned that the ‘very foundations of the best policing service in the world’ would be undermined by proposals which could see the service come under the control of so-called ‘police commissioners.’
Councillor Dave McLuckie said that the latest proposal from the Policy Exchange ‘think tank’ for directly-elected individuals to replace the current system of police authorities, made up of local authority representatives and independent members, was ‘as flawed as every other version of this idea—destroying the independence of Chief Constables which makes British policing the envy of the world.’
The Policy Exchange’s author Natalie Evans claims that public confidence in policing has fallen dramatically but Councillor McLuckie challenged her to ‘come and see the reality’ in Cleveland where the force has one of the highest levels of public confidence in the country.
Said Councillor McLuckie “Time after time we have seen this idea that somehow putting control in the hands of one—or perhaps a handful—of so-called commissioners would dramatically improve the performance...and accountability...of the police trotted out by think tanks and political parties. No doubt we will hear yet more versions in the run-up to the General Election.
“Whichever version you look at has the same appalling risks which have led senior police officers to be totally united in their opposition...as Sir Hugh Orde, the former Chief Constable of Northern Ireland and now President of the Association of Chief Constables put it ‘every professional bone’ in his body told him it was bad idea.
“That risk, as Sir Hugh has pointed out, is that it would be all too easy for extreme interests, whether from the left or right...or single issue campaigners...to take control. That same conclusion was reached by the former Home Secretary Dave Blunkett when he reviewed this matter as the request of the Government.
“Of course, it has initial appeal—and people point to the arrangements in the United States. Again it is worth listening to Sir Hugh Orde who pointed out that sheriffs he knows ‘seem to spend a lot of their time canvassing and preparing for elections...is that really what the public wants for British Policing?’
“Nobody is pretending that the current system is perfect and David Blunkett was right when he suggested that the role of police authorities and their ability to hold Chief Constables to account should be strengthened.
“But that will not be achieved by creating the risk of our policing being hijacked by extremists of whatever kind.”