Police reform update

Report: 12
Date: 25 October 2001
By: Clerk

Summary

This report is to update members on the government's proposals for the police reform programme.

A. Recommendations

1. Members discuss and note the paper and that commentary on the forthcoming White Paper will be circulated as soon as it is published; and
2. detailed proposals are discussed at the Members' workshop on 12 November.

B. Supporting information

1. Members of the Home Office Steering Group on the police reform programme, (which includes the Chairman and Executive Director of the Association of Police Authorities (APA) and the Deputy Commissioner) were recently briefed on a number of ministerial proposals on the way forward. Ministers have still to finalise their decisions. Firm legislative proposals will appear in the White Paper expected in November.

2. At Appendix 1 is attached a copy of the APA circular outlining the government's current thinking. Of particular significance to police authorities in general, and the MPA in particular, are the apparent moves to a greater degree of central control over policing. This includes:

• the setting of a national annual policing plan, underpinned by mandated policies and practices, codes of practice and guidance
• extra Home Secretary powers, covering direction or prohibition of use of equipment, development of "operational doctrine" and direction of specific action in the light of adverse HMIC inspections.
• possible power to require a chief constable to resign
• the establishment of a Standards Unit to bring about consistency of performance

2. Members - and the APA - will want to keep the impact of these proposals on the capacity of the police authority to represent a realistic local accountability governance framework under very close review.

3. The second area of considerable significance to the MPA and MPS is the accreditation of non police bodies and the scope to appoint auxiliary officers to perform a more limited role focussed on public reassurance. The MPS has worked up a discussion paper setting out proposals for a pilot scheme for London. This will be circulated to Members before the full Authority meeting and copies will be available to the public from the Secretariat on request.

4. There are wide ranging implications both financially and in terms of policing style and effectiveness for the Authority. Members are invited to agree that the special workshop arranged for 12 November ought to work through these proposals.

C Financial implications

Potentially significant but too early to assess.

D. Background papers

APA circular (given as appendix 1 to report).

E. Contact details

The author of this report is Catherine Crawford, Clerk MPA.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Appendix 1

Appendix 1:  APA circular, is available from the MPA.

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