All-party council leaders have slated Home Office plans for directly elected police representatives as a recipe for ‘blame-shifting and buck passing'. Conservative, Labour, Liberal-Democrat and Independent council leaders at the Local Government Association have all signed a letter to home secretary Jacqui Smith that warns: ‘No-one believes the proposals to introduce directly elected crime and policy representatives will strengthen police authorities or provide greater accountability.' LGA chairman Sir Simon Milton said: ‘In the place of substantive reforms needed to police authorities powers and responsibilities we have tinkering with their membership.'
