Elected police authorities, wrong decision says WLGA
28 November 2008
The WLGA has today criticised a Home Office decision to have directly elected police authorities across Wales and England, saying it undermines the strength in the current system and could result in the election of single issue candidates or even extremist candidates.
Under the current system police authorities comprise of Councillors appointed by their authority as well as magistrates and other independent members. However, under the new plan, all Councillors bar one would be replaced with directly elected Crime and Policing Representatives (CPR’S)
Cllr John Davies (Pembrokeshire), WLGA Leader said:
“This is a half-baked proposal that fails to recognise the strength of the current system in Wales. Not only would it add another level of unnecessary and extremely costly bureaucracy to an already cumbersome policing system but would devalue the legitimate role of the local council which already has the democratic mandate to deliver services that meet local community needs. Sidelining the role of democratically elected councillors could prove to be a recipe for disaster, particularly if police authorities and councils were to work to different local political agendas.”
The Association has also warned of the dangers that could arise from low voter turn out in Police Authority elections.
Councillor Lindsay Whittle (Caerphilly), WLGA Spokesperson for Equality and Social Justice said:
“If turn outs for elections are low, there is a real danger of single issue or even the possibility of extremist candidates coming forward. We should be striving for a more cohesive democracy, not further fragmenting what we already have and what we know works well”.
Ends
The reform of the police authorities in England and Wales is set out under the Home Office publication “From the neighbourhood to the national: policing our communities together.”