Top officer urges policing review

The head of police chiefs in England and Wales has called for a fundamental review of all aspects of policing following the general election.

The president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), Sir Hugh Orde, said it was time for the first review since 1962 to reflect the vastly changed nature of modern policing.

The review should cover everything from public expectations to police practices, leadership, the structure of forces across the country and the question of whether there should be a national police service to deal with the biggest threats.

Sir Hugh told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "I think it is important to step back now and look at this rationally, rather than wait for some crisis that will drive change in a way that is probably not going to be the best way possible.

"For example, we could have a multi-site international terrorist attack on this country. I would far rather be comfortable that we have the best structure possible to deal with that threat because we have looked at it before the crisis, rather than on the back of that crisis."

It is almost half a century since England and Wales last took a fundamental look at the nature of its policing, and since that time the work of police has changed in many ways, said Sir Hugh.

"We are in a very different place, so I think it we need to step back and have some assessment of what is the best form for the basic structure on which we can deliver the best policing possible."

Sir Hugh made clear that the review should be ready to contemplate changes to the county-based forces which have traditionally policed England and Wales, and to look at the option of a national force of the kind seen in many other European countries.

He said Acpo would "nail our colours to the mast" in defence of Chief Constables' operational independence in any policing structure emerging from a review.

And the Acpo president restated his opposition to Conservative proposals for elected police chiefs, telling Today: "I think you move into dangerous territory when you elect one individual to represent the hugely diverse communities in any geographical area we have in the UK."