Judging by the number of letters we have received, the subject of police accountability seems to have touched a raw nerve in the corridors of power. Without doubt, this is due to the recent Flanagan report and the prospect of not only a Green Paper but a White Paper in the autumn. Alarmed at the threat of a major shake-up in response to concerns about accountability, the lobbyists are flexing their muscles. In particular, the spotlight has fallen on the 43 police authorities in England and Wales, and the calibre of their councillors, an issue which has, so far, not often been at the forefront of the debate over political management at local level. Results from The MJ's survey on page 1 showing that many police forces are imposing precept increases at triple the inflation rate will add to these pressures. The public have certainly made it plain that they want properly-funded police but their support is not open-ended. Flanagan made it clear in his report that the public are concerned about the service they receive from the police and about their perceived lack of response to public worries such as low-level crime. The Association of Police Authorities, in a letter to The MJ (see pages 5 and 10) believes its members – and their councillors – should take credit for ‘the biggest fall in crime since records began.' London Councils calls for police commissioners and elected neighbourhood boards in the capital. But Sir Ronnie is none too wild about the current democratic arrangements, although he avoids backing any particular alternative. He reports ‘some concerns' about the skills and aptitudes of ‘some' councillors selected for PAs, about their lack of diversity and their low profile, and about the difficulty of tackling poor performers. But he is by no means convinced that going back to the future, by returning to the pre-1964 arrangements of elected watch committees is the answer either. Nonetheless, with the Government also set to respond to the Councillors' Commission findings, and with above-inflation police precepts, it is certain that reform of current accountability arrangements, in particular of police authorities, will be on the cards. Michael Burton Editor, The MJ l See blog: www.LocalGov.co.uk
