Policing Minister Nick Herbert attacks 'elitist' critics

Fighting crime: The Home Office plans to make police commissioners directly elected
12 April 2012

A Government minister has hit out at "elitist" critics of plans for new directly elected police commissioners with wide-ranging powers to hire and fire chief constables.

In a speech today, Policing Minister Nick Herbert will dismiss claims that the creation of police and crime commissioners will lead to the election of extremist or populist candidates, or that the police will become politicised.

Addressing the centre-left Institute for Public Policy Research in London, he will accuse critics of the plan - which was a key Conservative manifesto commitment - of being afraid of democracy.

According to advance extracts of his speech, Mr Herbert will say that the commissioners should be "big local figures" with a powerful mandate to drive the fight against crime and antisocial behaviour.

The real objection to the scheme, he will say, is "an elitist fear that elected commissioners might be so brash as to reflect public concern and pledge to get tough on crime".

He will add: "It's strange that so many democrats are so wary of democracy, but I believe that we can and should trust the people."

The first elections for the new commissioners - who will replace the existing police authorities in England and Wales - are due to be held in May 2012.

The Home Office is currently working with the Association of Chief Police Officers on a protocol setting out how the commissioners should work with their chief constables.

While the commissioner will appoint and, if necessary, dismiss the chief constable and set their force's strategic priorities and budget, the legal "control and direction" of the force will remain with the chief constable.

"It's fundamental to our system that the police remain operationally independent," Mr Herbert will say.

"No politician can tell a constable - a sworn officer of the Crown - who to arrest. Forces will continue to be under the 'direction and control' of their chief constable.

"But police and crime commissioners will give the public a voice in how they are policed, setting the long-term strategy for the force and its budget, and appointing the chief constable.

"In turn, chiefs will be liberated to be crime fighters rather than government managers."

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