Police Authority Chairman voices concern that far-right group is already preparing to field candidates.
The Chairman of Cleveland Police Authority has voiced alarm after reports that the BNP is preparing to field Policing and Crime Commissioner candidates. Dave McLuckie warned that members of the far right group could potentially end up with huge power in police forces when the first elections for the posts are held in May 2012.
He added: “There is the danger that elections could attract candidates standing on extreme platforms, with the risk that policing priorities could be totally distorted. This is not scaremongering – the BNP has made it clear they intend to field candidates so we could have the situation where a party whose members are not allowed to be officers could hold the power to control the priorities of an entire force.”
Cllr McLuckie was responding to reports in the Daily Telegraph, which suggested that the far-right party had ex-police officers who wanted to stand as commissioners. A party spokesman told the newspaper that “several people” are interested in the role and it is “highly likely” candidates will be fielded “in as many forces as possible”.
Despite concerns that extreme groups could field commissioner candidates, ministers have played down the fear, claiming that it is important to trust the electorate. They have also highlighted that elections will be held over a wide geographic area – and that fringe parties have failed to make progress on this scale before. But in addition to the costs of creating commissioners – widely expected to run to £136 million, Cllr McLuckie said the move threatened to tear apart the foundations of the British policing system, “rightly regarded as the best in the world”. The Chairman emphasised: “The idea of having an individual in charge of policing might have superficial appeal, but any proper examination exposes the deep flaws.
“Outside one part of the Coalition government there is no support for this proposal. Indeed one of the parties in the Coalition fought the General Election on a manifesto which proposed the strengthening – rather than the destruction – of police authorities.”
As reported on PoliceOracle.com, legislation underpinning the creation of directly elected commissioners has now been presented in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill. The government claims the plans will make police forces more accountable to the communities they serve and strengthen the relationship between officers and the public.
Police Oracle
Showing posts with label elected commissioner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elected commissioner. Show all posts
December 03, 2010
September 07, 2009
Lunatics or BNP could win control of police, says chief
The row between Boris Johnson and the police reignited today after one of Britain's most senior officers said it was "entirely unacceptable" to claim the Met was under Tory control.
Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, attacked City Hall Conservatives for suggesting they now had their "hands on the tiller" of the London force. Deputy mayor Kit Malthouse prompted a backlash last week when he came up with the phrase and suggested policing should be put under political control just as health and education were.
Sir Hugh said chief constables around the country were united in opposing the politicisation of their forces, declaring maintaining law and order was "far too important to be used as a political football". He also widened his attack to slam Tory plans for elected police commissioners, warning that David Cameron's proposals could result in "lunatics" or the BNP in charge of policing.
Mr Malthouse infuriated the Met with his comments last week and his suggestion that City Hall now controlled the force was flatly denied by Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson. When asked on BBC1's Andrew Marr programme about Mr Malthouse's remarks, Sir Hugh replied: "I find it entirely unacceptable from a professional police officer's point of view, and I know I can speak with absolute clarity for all the 44 chiefs that lead policing in this country."
The Mayor's office refused to comment on the criticism. Sir Hugh, who was a contender for the top Met job before Sir Paul was appointed, said it was unfair of the Conservatives to suggest that officers were not currently accountable enough. The former chief constable for Northern Ireland today stepped up his attacks, calling on the Conservative Party to explain exactly how it plans to alter the leadership of Britain's police forces should it win the next election.
He told the Independent: "No one has articulated to me or anyone else what the elected commissioner plan actually looks like. I know that Labour have stepped back from it, but the Conservatives are still committed to it. They need to talk to us about what exactly they are talking about doing. Do they think that the public are so interested in policing that they would turn out and vote? And for whom? A politician? Or do they mind if they get a lunatic or a retired copper? All of these questions need to be answered."
Asked whether he feared a BNP or far-Right candidate could seize upon this, Sir Hugh replied: "Yes, that is a risk. If you have a system whereby anyone can stand to be elected as the local police commissioner, you could have any Tom, Dick or Harriet standing. If they can muster enough support against a backdrop of public apathy, then of course it is a risk."
Many supporters of the proposal have pointed out that it is similar to apparently successful models in the United States, but Sir Hugh rejected the suggestion that it could work here. He added: "Perhaps people should go to America before saying things like that. I know a lot of sheriffs and they seem to spend a lot of their time canvassing and preparing for elections. Is that really what the public wants for British policing?"
London Evening Standard
Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, attacked City Hall Conservatives for suggesting they now had their "hands on the tiller" of the London force. Deputy mayor Kit Malthouse prompted a backlash last week when he came up with the phrase and suggested policing should be put under political control just as health and education were.
Sir Hugh said chief constables around the country were united in opposing the politicisation of their forces, declaring maintaining law and order was "far too important to be used as a political football". He also widened his attack to slam Tory plans for elected police commissioners, warning that David Cameron's proposals could result in "lunatics" or the BNP in charge of policing.
Mr Malthouse infuriated the Met with his comments last week and his suggestion that City Hall now controlled the force was flatly denied by Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson. When asked on BBC1's Andrew Marr programme about Mr Malthouse's remarks, Sir Hugh replied: "I find it entirely unacceptable from a professional police officer's point of view, and I know I can speak with absolute clarity for all the 44 chiefs that lead policing in this country."
The Mayor's office refused to comment on the criticism. Sir Hugh, who was a contender for the top Met job before Sir Paul was appointed, said it was unfair of the Conservatives to suggest that officers were not currently accountable enough. The former chief constable for Northern Ireland today stepped up his attacks, calling on the Conservative Party to explain exactly how it plans to alter the leadership of Britain's police forces should it win the next election.
He told the Independent: "No one has articulated to me or anyone else what the elected commissioner plan actually looks like. I know that Labour have stepped back from it, but the Conservatives are still committed to it. They need to talk to us about what exactly they are talking about doing. Do they think that the public are so interested in policing that they would turn out and vote? And for whom? A politician? Or do they mind if they get a lunatic or a retired copper? All of these questions need to be answered."
Asked whether he feared a BNP or far-Right candidate could seize upon this, Sir Hugh replied: "Yes, that is a risk. If you have a system whereby anyone can stand to be elected as the local police commissioner, you could have any Tom, Dick or Harriet standing. If they can muster enough support against a backdrop of public apathy, then of course it is a risk."
Many supporters of the proposal have pointed out that it is similar to apparently successful models in the United States, but Sir Hugh rejected the suggestion that it could work here. He added: "Perhaps people should go to America before saying things like that. I know a lot of sheriffs and they seem to spend a lot of their time canvassing and preparing for elections. Is that really what the public wants for British policing?"
London Evening Standard
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