Police reform must be much more radical than current Home Office plans, according to local government leaders. The review of policing published last week by former RUC chief, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, called for improved communication with local people and other agencies. He rejected calls for councils to be given the power to sack poor-performing police chiefs. Final plans will be set out in a Green Paper, due this spring. Whitehall sources say embattled Home Office chiefs are determined to not cede any more powers to other government departments. But Sir Ronnie criticised the Home Office for being ‘too directly involved in the delivery of policing at the local level'. LGA leader, Sir Simon Milton, said no change was not an option. ‘Local authorities can only serve the interests of local people if they can get rid of someone who does a bad job,' he said. ‘Tackling and combating organised crime and protecting national security should be done at the national level, but local policing should be answerable first to local people through their council.' Newham LBC mayor, Sir Robin Wales, called for drastic change. He said: ‘There is room to be more radical still and the home secretary should grasp the opportunity. ‘The answer is giving people greater democratic control over the priorities that their police pursue.' But the Association of Police Authorities defended its role, saying when councils were responsible for local policing, crime went up. The DCLG said the report had ‘a range of different models to consider'. A spokesperson said: ‘Sir Ronnie Flanagan has recognised the importance of making neighbourhood policing more visible and accessible to local people. ‘We agree with Sir Ronnie that it is important for people to feel listened to, and resident engagement and public involvement should be embedded in policing.'
