Policing in the 21st Century: Reconnecting Police and the People consultation document - MPA member response

Report: 10
Date: 16 September 2010
By: Chief Executive

Summary

Attached as an appendix to this report is the draft MPA Member Response to the Home Office Policing in the 21st Century: Reconnecting Police and the People consultation document.

A. Recommendation

That Members note the contents of Appendix 1 and provide suggested amendments.

B. Supporting information

1. The Home Secretary announced the set of reforms for policing contained within the consultation document ‘Policing in the 21st Century: Reconnecting Police and the People’ consultation document on 26 July 2010. An eight week consultation period followed, with a deadline of 20 September 2010 for all responses to be received by the Home Office.

2. A summary of the consultation document was sent to members mid August and views were sought via email, given the difficulties posed by the summer recess, and at a workshop on 2 September. A first draft of the MPA Member Response was circulated on 8 September. Comments were received and the attached second iteration attempts to take these on board.

3. Meetings with Ministers and Home Office officials have taken place throughout the eight week consultation.

C. Other organisational and community implications

Equality Impact

1. It has been noted that the Home Office Policing in the 21st Century: Reconnecting Police and the People document lacks detail on the equality and diversity implications of the proposed changes. We have considered and raised concerns as appropriate in the draft MPA Member response.

MET Forward

2. The success of Met Forward is highlighted as one of the MPA successes in the draft MPA Member response.

Financial Implications

3. There is no reference to the possibly very significant financial implications of the changes proposed in the Home Office Policing the 21st Century: Reconnecting Police and the People document, and in particular the cost associated with electing Police and Crime Commissioners, although this has been raised as a concern in meetings with Ministers and Home Office officials.

Legal Implications

4. will be major legal implications but detailed consideration of these will have to await publication of the Bill.

Environmental Implications

5. There are no obvious environmental implications to note at this stage.

Risk Implications

6. The proposed changes to policing governance present significant risks to policing, particularly during the period of transition and given the proposed timing of the changes in the run up to the Olympic and Paralympic games.

Background papers

• Policing in the 21st Century: Reconnecting Police and the People, MPA Member Response – DRAFT (attached as appendix 1)

Contact details

Report author: Catherine Crawford, MPA Chief Executive

For information contact:

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

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