Ref:47/07 March 27, 2007
POLICING REVIEW

Responding to the Government’s Crime and Justice Policy Review, ACPO President Ken Jones said:

“ACPO believes that the time has come for a wider debate on the future role and functions of the police service. The content of this welcome review, when combined with recent challenging reports from HMIC, supports our goal.

“We welcome this policing review to which we have submitted ideas and highlighted challenges. Whilst we wait to see the detail, we are determined to continue to do all we can to reduce bureaucracy, build on neighbourhood policing and make the best use of our resources.

“A recent extensive financial management evaluation of all 43 police forces by the national Audit Office shows that two-thirds of police forces are performing well in their use of financial resources, and the majority performing consistently above the minimum requirements set by the Audit Commission. This compares favourably with other parts of the public sector. We have recently, with the Association of Police Authorities, submitted a range of proposals on how this progress can be maintained as we enter a period of tightened budgets.

“Neighbourhood policing has made massive progress in embedding local teams in communities. Since its roll out, we have seen public confidence levels in policing rise, and we want to improve our partnership working to ensure that we have the support and commitment of all agencies. We can do even more if there were less bureaucracy and fewer targets; of which there are still far too many. If the review is able to ease these pressures ‘space’ will be made for us to customise what we deliver according to what people need in their neighbourhoods.

“We police with the consent of the people. We are always looking for ways to be more accessible and accountable – especially at the local level – but we need to make sure that the chain of accountability from street level policing through to police chiefs, and authorities, is not broken. We need local intelligence about street dealing to tackle the organised criminals who are trafficking the drugs that ruin lives and break up communitiues. We also need to see more genuine shared accountability of all local agencies involved in policing.

“For now, we look forward to working with Sir Ronnie Flanagan on this review to build on the successes of the service.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors

• The ACPO Press Office can be contacted via 020 7084 8946/47/48 (office hours) or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).

• The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is an independent, professionally led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with Government and the Association of Police Authorities, ACPO leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, coordinates the strategic policing response.

• ACPO’s 341 members are police officers of Assistant Chief Constable rank (Commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, and senior police staff managers, in the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and other forces such as British Transport Police and States of Jersey Police.