ACPO comment on Police and Social Responsibility Bill

ACPO lead on futures Chief Constable Mark Rowley said:

"The police service expects robust accountability in everything that we do. The government has been emphatic in its commitment to operational independence, which alongside local accountability is a cornerstone of British policing. Operational independence in the British model of policing gives chief constables the freedom to make professional judgments on how we keep people safe, free from political interference. We are accountable to the law through the courts for these decisions.

"We are very clear that it is not for chief constables to determine the way in which we should be held to account for the quality of policing we provide to local communities. But we do have a right to clarity about how the arrangements are intended to work.

“There are a range of practical considerations we have raised with government in the consultation process. We will now take time to consider the Bill in detail."

For more information please contact:

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk