The WLGA has today announced their opposition to the Home Office proposal to abolish Police Authorities and replace them with Police and Crime Commissioners.
Under the proposal, elected Police and Crime Commissioners would have powers to set the force budget and priorities; engage with the public; appoint and if necessary, dismiss, the Chief Constable; and propose the police precept level.
Following discussions by the Leaders of local authorities in Wales, Cllr. Lindsay Whittle, WLGA Spokesperson for Equality and Social Justice said:
“We believe that the Home Office plans are ill thought out and will not deliver the increased public accountability that the Government wants to see. We agree with the UK Government that police should be more accountable to local communities and the public should know who to contact should they have concerns to raise and we would be happy to work with the Home Office to achieve that aim. However, establishing Police and Crime Commissioners is not the right answer.”
“We are facing the biggest cuts to public spending since the Second World War and the police themselves have voiced concerns about the impact cuts will have on levels of front line policing. Now is not the right time to cause upheaval in the governance structures – we need the experience that Police Authority Members bring to support and assist the police through these difficult times. The cost of the elections for Commissioners, and referendums on police precept levels should they be required, will be an additional expense which we can ill afford. The Association of Police Authorities (APA) recently estimated the new system will cost £100 million more than the present system. We do not believe that this additional cost can be justified nor that it will bring a better system of accountability.”
Cllr. Russell Roberts, WLGA Spokesperson for Improvement and Governance and Chair of the South Wales Police Authority added:
“We accept that there are improvements that can and should be made to improve the visibility of Police Authorities. However, a recent survey undertaken by the Police Authorities of Wales (PAW) demonstrated that 97% of those that responded had heard of Police Authorities and 82% agreed that they knew what a Police Authority does. This contrasts with the Home Office premise that Police Authorities are ‘invisible’. We also believe that sharing the responsibilities of holding the police to account and engaging with diverse communities across Wales between 17 or 19 members of a Police Authority is better than having one individual.”
Cllr. John Davies, WLGA Leader and a member of Dyfed Powys Police Authority said:
“The role of elected members on Police Authorities is crucial in ensuring that the police and local authorities identify shared priorities and work together to address them. Having elected members on Police Authorities has also helped ensure that precept levels, which local authorities collect on behalf of the police, are kept at an acceptable and proportionate level. ”
“The proposed new role for local councillors, on a Police and Crime Panel, is extremely limited and will not have the power to provide the robust oversight of Commissioner’s that would be needed. We are concerned that the proposals will diminish the partnership approach to crime and disorder we have developed over recent years.”
“The WLGA calls on the UK Government to rethink their plans, particularly how they may impact in Wales, so that the aim of increased public accountability is achieved but in a way that is progressive and builds on what already works well.”
