Federation expresses concern about policing green paper consultation response document

28 November 2008

Responding to the summary of the Policing Green Paper consultation responses and next steps published by the Home Office today, Paul McKeever, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, says:

“Today’s publication shows that despite extensive consultation with key policing stakeholders and having received a variety of different views the government is determined to push ahead with all the proposals they initially outlined in their Green Paper consultation earlier this year.

“We remain concerned that the government is still looking to give greater powers to CSOs despite the increasing attacks on those policing the frontline and the huge difference in training, equipment and experience between a police officer and a CSO. To replace police officers with CSOs may be just a cost cutting exercise for the government but it is imperative for public safety and security that police officers remain at the heart of policing communities.

“It is also unfortunate that the government so readily dismisses our view, shared by the Association of Police Authorities and the Local Government Association, that the concept of directly elected commissioners is likely to increase politicisation of policing and open the doors to extremists determining operational policing decisions locally. This is not good for an apolitical independent police service and the money this would cost to implement could be better spent building upon the current structures to encourage local involvement.

“The move to increase political control of policing is compounded further by plans to move senior officer appointments and chief officer appraisals from the HMIC to the Home Office; a tactical move that should ensure those tasked with leading the police service do not step out of line with the wishes of their political masters.

“We very much welcome the news that real attempts will be made to tackle bureaucracy and cut the endless targets officers are pressured to adhere to. We will play an active part on the Reducing Bureaucracy Practitioner Group to ensure it happens this time.

“We want to work with the Home Office to deliver the very best police service to the public we can, but in order to do this the government must demonstrate a willingness to listen and understand the views of others rather than pushing ahead with major change purely to satisfy electioneering timetables.”

ENDS

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