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Plans for directly-elected policing representatives will undermine partnership working between the police and councils, MPs have claimed. In the Home Office select committee's latest report on policing, MPs claimed crime and policing representatives were likely to have ‘as little, if not less, mandate to represent people than current councillors'. The report added: ‘We are also concerned about the potential for this additional layer of representation to undermine partnership working between the police and local authorities.' Overall the report claims ‘it is not clear' how the green paper's plans would increase accountability of police to citizens. However, the home secretary was adamant the policy was here to stay. Speaking at an Ipsos Mori event on crime in London last week, Jacqui Smith told delegates she was determined to press ahead. She claimed it was vital citizens have a single representative to take their concerns over policing to. The home secretary added: ‘It is critical local authorities join forces with the police'. However, LGA chairman Margaret Eaton called on the Home Office to rethink, claiming the public already had elected representatives – their councillors. She agreed the public needed to have a say on policing, but said: ‘Let's strengthen the accountability of policing through councillors and not build additional structures.' ‘I would like to emphasise that our opposition to these proposals is a position strongly shared by all the political groups at the LGA and also the Association of Police Authorities. We have a legitimate fear that directly crime and policing representatives would undermine the successful partnerships and the relationships we have developed so far.' She also claimed the plan would ‘confuse' the public and fail to give the public more say over policing. Senior police sources are also concerned about the Home Office plans, claiming they would ‘politicise' the police force.

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WHITEHALL

Direct policing 'won't work'

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