Which would you rather have: A PC (Police Commissioner) OR Several PCs (Police Constables)?

I guess most of us have views about how we safeguard security at a local level, which lie somewhere between the “flog ‘em and hang ‘em” brigade and the “pat the naughty things on the head and let ‘em go” brigade. So, should we at a local level have more say in the criminal justice system, particularly how our local police service performs? Just as I was writing this column, the Home Office announced that maps would be made available immediately on the internet, where people could look at crime figures for their street. Typically, initial public reaction was concern that it would impact on house prices rather than police effectiveness!!! 

Let’s begin with Police Commissioners.&&.

Home Secretary Theresa May wants to introduce elected Police Commissioners in 2012. She says these (one for each police authority in England & Wales) “would make forces truly accountable to their communities, ensuring resources are properly targeted to where needed, giving the public a greater say in measures to reduce crime and improve community safety”.

They’d also “represent and engage with all those who live and work in the communities”& “identify their policing needs”, as well as setting priorities by agreeing a local strategic plan, holding the Chief Constable to account, setting the force budget (including the police element in council tax bills) and appointing (and maybe sacking) the Chief Constable.

Do we really need to change things?........

Currently the Home Secretary/Home Office set the police policy and budgets. Would this change? At the next level are 43 Police Authorities made up of members from elected bodies (i.e. councils) and appointees who set the local policing budget for their force. In future there would be 43 new bodies (police & crime panels) made up of similar  representatives, each of which will “oversee” their Police Commissioner, who in turn sets the local policing budget. This is the main change.

Below all of this, in old and new scenarios, the Chief Constable runs his/her police service and all the day-to-day operations of the force. The difference is that, whereas now the Police Authority advises and guides the strategy and budget making of the force, in future a directly elected political individual would be solely responsible for this. This of course may politicise the police, and is where the main opposition to the Home Secretary’s proposal will come.

What do you think?.........

Do you think Police Commissioners will add anything to how the police service already functions? Or is it a political red herring that will cost yet more money and potentially give scope to representatives of the “brigades” I mentioned in the opening paragraph to get undue power in our local policing system? This could be a serious issue for all of us.

Whilst Home Office ministers are saying that the proposed Commissioners, similar to the US system, will improve local accountability of our police forces and Chief Constables, others are asking about what evidence exists to show such new elected positions will cut crime. Wouldn’t keeping our existing policemen and women make a bigger contribution to fighting crime? This will affect you and your community, so what’s your view on it?

How does local consultation work now?........

There are various platforms already in existence that are used for consultation between the police, other agencies and the public about issues that affect us in our local areas. Here in Bovey Tracey and Heathfield we have had the PACT meetings (Police and Communities Together) where the neighbourhood policing teams meet with local councillors, businesses from the town, youth workers, voluntary group leaders and church representatives and others, to assess the community’s concerns, what can be done to address the issues, and help in setting the main policing priorities. These have been supplemented more recently with easily accessible and advertised local police surgeries which are open to all in the community to meet with the neighbourhood team and discuss the issues that concern them.

Here in the Chudleigh Sector of Devon & Cornwall police, regular public meetings chaired by the Sector Inspector are held which interested citizens can attend. These give the opportunity to hear how your local policing teams are performing and of course for the public to ask questions. Hopefully, even with the likely budget cuts we are expecting, these will continue in the future. These are another forum for giving feedback and expressing views on areas of concern or indeed of satisfaction (positive feedback is always welcome when it is due!). 

Community Safety Panels.&&

We have the South Devon & Dartmoor Community Safety Partnership, which is multi-agency, including the police, and addresses many of our local security issues at panels held on a regular basis around the area. Topics for consideration include alcohol misuse, anti-social behaviour, public reassurances about services deemed necessary to help defined categories (e.g. victims and the vulnerable), dealing with violent crime, and many more. These panels identify actions needed, resources and budgets required to manage and implement solutions.

Neighbourhood Watch (NHW)&&&

Of course it is rare for me not to mention NHW, but the fact is that the local police support it and issues arising through NHW are passed back to the local beat team. Actions are taken by them, and feedback from the individual schemes in the Bovey NHW Forum is used to help identify policing priorities/resources for resolving local issues. I think this works remarkably well, and would encourage those of you not in NHW to seriously think about joining in.

When it comes to seeing maps on the internet with street crime figures, how will residents interact with the police to air their concerns and get a response? I’d suggest that NHW, which is a street based organisation, is the ideal vehicle for achieving this. It already exists and can be built on rather than spending public funds on setting up a new organisation. What do you think? I’d be interested to know (email me on bowdens.nhw@btinternet.com).  

So do we really need more change?&&

I’ve outlined changes to our local police service being proposed by the Home Secretary aiming to make it more accountable to us, and given some examples of how consultation about our local policing already exists, both in a formal and a more informal mode (through PACT, local police surgeries and Sector meetings, our Community Safety Partnership and NHW). In this time of financial restraint, do we really need to introduce a new system, more elections, and an additional and political loop in the decision and policy making structure of our local force? I’d welcome your comments if you have strong feelings on the subject.

Postscript&&&..

I was asked recently why I write this column, and whether I was paid for it. I do it voluntarily for free because I see this unique magazine as a valued publication for promoting our local businesses and services. Also I try to encourage community well-being via involvement in NHW, which I am pleased to say seems to be going from strength to strength here in Bovey.

Other columns by Tony Allen