Review of Policing comment

Responding to the Flanagan interview with Police Professional on the Review of Policing, Jan Berry, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales said:

“The Police Federation has consistently made the case for a thorough review of policing and one which really looks at the fundamentals of the role and purpose of policing today. The timescale and the scope of this inquiry is insufficient for what is required and recent meetings within the service lead me to believe we are not alone in this view.

Without a clear understanding of the role and function of the police officer, there can be no marker against which to judge the performance of the service, the level and type of resource to meet the requirement, where such resources should be directed or who the service should be governed by and made accountable to. Once the boundaries and expectations are defined, the rate for the role can be better determined. 

Expectations must be realistic and managed, bureaucracy reduced and a clearer understanding of the role of the service would ensure neighbourhood policing can succeed alongside the 24/7 policing, crime investigation, road policing and terrorism threat”