Archived decisions
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING
21 FEBRUARY, 2002
REPORT OF THE HAMPSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY
POLICE REFORM WHITE PAPER "POLICING A NEW CENTURY : A BLUEPRINT FOR REFORM"
1. The Authority has considered in detail the Home Secretary's proposals for reforming the police service.
2. Police Authorities share the objectives set out by the Government in seeking police reform and they are fully committed to working in partnership with the Home Secretary and Chief Officers within the existing constitutional framework, to deliver better local policing. However, it is the assessment of the Authority that, taken as a whole, the Home Secretary's proposals are very likely to lead to a fundamental shift in the tri-partite relationship, and an unacceptable sidelining of the voice of local communities, and local accountability. The Authority believes that the principle of the operational independence of Chief Officers within the tri-partite framework of accountability, remains an essential bedrock of policing.
3. The Home Secretary is proposing:-
· To produce an annual national policing plan, which will not be the subject of statutory consultation with tri-partite partners.
· To take powers to give direction to Chief Officers to produce remedial plans to address performance issues (without the involvement of the Police Authority).
· To take powers to direct the use of particular equipment or adoption of particular operational procedures and practices.
· To take a power to direct a police authority to suspend the Chief Constable of a Force, notwithstanding that the Police Authority does not judge this necessary to maintain local confidence in the Force.
· To issue statutory guidance to Police Authorities and Chief Officers on the preparation of three year strategy plans and to require the plans to be sent to the Home Secretary.
· To establish a process for forming a view as to whether in his view the local plan is consistent with the National Policing Plan.
· To task a Standards Unit to intervene directly with Forces and Basic Command Units within Forces on performance issues.
4. In addition the Government is proposing in the Police Bill some fundamental changes to the way in which policing is delivered including:-
· The introduction of Community Support Officers (CSOs), designated by the Chief Constable and the introduction of Community Safety Accreditation Schemes (CSAs), with individuals accredited by the Chief Constable.
5. Designated Community Support Officers will have powers including:-
· Powers to issue fixed penalty notices in relation to certain offences.
· Power to require a name and a address.
· Power to detain a person for upto 30 minutes pending the arrival of a constable unless the person chooses to go with the Community Support Officer to a Police Station.
· Power to use reasonable force to detain someone.
6. Accredited individuals will have powers including:-
· Powers to issue fixed penalty notices in relation to certain offences.
· Power to require a name and address.
· Power to detain a person for upto 30 minutes pending the arrival of a constable (but not to use reasonable force).
7. The Authority is concerned that the introduction of CSOs has significant implications for the style and nature of local policing - matters which are the key provenance of police authorities.
8. As currently drafted there is no requirement in the Bill for the Chief Officer to seek the approval of (or even consult), the Police Authority as to the introduction of CSOs in the area.
9. With regard to accreditation schemes, there are concerns about proposals to award police powers of any sort to accredited organisations. The award of such powers raises significant questions around accountability, control, training and the community's perception of policing as a whole. It also raises questions, not addressed by the White Paper, about the legal responsibilities for acts committed by such staff.
10. The Bill only places an obligation on Chief Officers to consult Police Authorities about establishing CSAS in their area whereas, such a significant change in local policing should be the subject of full and open debate with local communities to ascertain their support before embarking on such a course.
11. At the end of the day, the Authority believes that there is no substitute for properly trained, professional police officers on the streets. Anything less appears to be policing on the cheap and will deliver a second class service which will not be in the public interest. It will also add another tier or policing which will only serve to confuse the public and increase the likelihood of such individuals being open to corruption.
12. The Government's proposals are all uncosted and preliminary work undertaken by the Association of Police Authorities suggests that the resource implications of many of the proposals are significant. The Authority expects the Government to give a clear commitment to finding the necessary funding.
13. The Authority will continue to seek ways to influence the debate on the proposals contained within the Bill with a view to achieving amendments to the draft legislation before it is enacted.
4IR03202