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Police ‘will quit’ if Tories create elected bosses
20 Nov 2009One of Britain's top policemen clashed with David Cameron today over Tory plans for locally elected police chiefs.
Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said chief constables would resign rather than take policy orders from the US-style commissioners, who would have sweeping powers to set budgets and priorities.
He said anti-terrorism policies and national efforts to catch serial rapists would be at risk, as they could clash with local political pressures and budgets. He said if he was a chief officer subjected to such control, he would quit.
Mayor Boris Johnson's ousting of Sir Ian Blair as Met chief last year has fuelled fears of greater political control over forces. Tories say the public want police to be more responsive to local views.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Sir Hugh said any “perception” of political influence over chiefs would undermine the service. He added: “We must be operationally independent in terms of how we deliver policing. We should not be influenced by anyone who has any potential for a political basis.”
Reader views (15)
It's about accountability, Sir Hugh. No one wants spin doctor police, but could there be a more image-conscious chief constable than the last un-elected one we just had? And no one wants the police to be the adjuncts of a particular political party, but does he seriously think "political pressures and budgets" would not stretch to support efforts to combat terrorists and serial rapists? This is a cry for help from the Planet Konstabulon -- it has no meaning in our earth language.
- Bloke, Lambeth, 20/11/2009 16:47
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Is'n this an oxymoron?
- John Ex Brat, Buckley Flints, 20/11/2009 16:47
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He was a chief constable of two forces and did not do much good in any of.So who cares
- Alex., brighton, 20/11/2009 16:41
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Just put a blow up rubber doll behind his desk if he quits, nobody will notice
- Ron Ak, Birkenhead UK, 20/11/2009 16:37
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If they refuse the legitimate order of parliament let them resign without any payoff and no pension rights.
- Tojo, Hythe Kent, 20/11/2009 15:40
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This only goes to prove that the Tory policy is the correct one.
- Rs, Winchester, England, 20/11/2009 15:39
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Go on then quit! Who do these comics think they are. It's the public who suffer your inability to do your job properly. If you do your job to the satisfaction of the public, well then what have you got to be worried about. You are afraid of the real world.
- Roy Lewis, United Kingdom, 20/11/2009 15:22
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So.If I am to understand Sir Hugh Orde correctly, he wants complete autonomy from Government, or in other words, the Police to be independent. Hmm. Isn't that the function of a police state as opposed to a true democracy where the Police have to answer to the people for their actions? We appear to be going down a very slippery slope to a position where the law is decided by non elected authority. Hitler sneaked into power the very same way!
- Alan Reece, Hythe, Kent, 20/11/2009 15:13
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Good let them quit, there are plenty of police officers ready to take his place, and at a lower rate of pay.
- P Staker, London, 20/11/2009 15:08
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The police will serve the Labour Government, but won't a Conservative one: interesting stuff, if you're of the opinion that Britain is now practically a police state. Trouble is, just like you get career-politicians you now get career-policemen: guys (why mostly guys, btw?) who put their career first, in other words: perhaps this idea will change that?
- Roz, France, 20/11/2009 14:01
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The very last thing we want is political control over the police. If we have elected "Chief Constables" all they would be concerned with is their image rather than enforcing the law. The great thing about the British police is that they are NOT responsible to any one faction or political party, but act on behalf of everyone.
- Patrick, Dalston, 20/11/2009 13:59
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Playing call my bluff, are we? Bring it on.
The idea that the police are not under political control already is ridiculous, e.g. the police raid on Damian Green's office in Parliament, the RUC shoot-to-kill policy and other forms of 'dirty war' and the Battle of Orgreave where miners were attacked on Thatcher's orders.
I'd welcome the opportunity to elect my local chief constable. If the existing one did us a favour and resigned, we'd soon see an improvement in crime figures and customer service.
Sir Hugh Orde is to policing what Bob Crowe is to transport - a trade union leader. Only difference is Bob's probably better at his job. We shall see.
- C Nichol, London, 20/11/2009 13:54
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Who does this idiot plod think employs him? Would the police collapse if they didn't have a Chief Constable? Don't think so. Last time I looked the community charge includes contribution to the police, so there is at least some local funding. I think police should address local demand. It might also get people more interested in local politics if they actually thought it might change the way the Met have been run over the last few years as a PC organisation. It would be nice to actually check the way salaries are set in public services. When they resign en masse, who is going to hire them? That's when we find out that you don't have to pay "market rates" for second rate civil servants.
- Jon, london, 20/11/2009 13:40
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I always thought it was the elected government that controlled the police, not the other way round ?
- Tony, Peterborough, 20/11/2009 13:37
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So much for the Tories being the party of law and order. What happened to Boris' clampdown on youth gun crime? Complete piffle.
- Steve S, London, 20/11/2009 12:41
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