Update on ACPO Future

In July 2014, chief officers voted in support of proposals to establish a new coordinating body that would be hosted by, but independent of, the Metropolitan Police and would replace the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). These proposals were drawn up by a group of chief officers implementing recommendations made by General Sir Nick Parker’s review of ACPO.

Following that mandate, the implementation group continued developing a legal structure, operating model, secretariat structure, process for a chief constable to be selected as an independent leader, organisation name and future funding.

The group consulted all ACPO members on how the new chair should be elected, the name of the body and the emerging operating model; final decisions were made by chief constables.

It was agreed that all chief officers would elect a chair before the end of 2014. The intention was to ensure that the electorate is inclusive to ensure broad support. Chiefs agreed a fixed term appointment of two years with a maximum of four years subject to satisfactory performance.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council was chosen as the name of new body.

Members were consulted on early proposals for an operating model with three basic components: Chief Constables’ Council, an annual delivery plan and a range of coordination committees that will replace the business area structure used by ACPO. It was agreed that more work was needed to develop the committee structure.

There will be a small team to support the chair, provide planning and programme management and communications support. Work is continuing to ensure that legal agreements are in place to ensure that the body operates efficiently and effectively.

In light of these decisions, ACPO President Sir Hugh Orde is now in a position to stand down at the end of 2014 to allow chief officers to elect a leader who will lead the new body. ACPO will continue to provide national coordination and leadership until the new body is constituted.

The coordinating body will help police cut crime and keep the public safe, by joining up the operational response to the most serious and strategic threats. Focussing on operational delivery and developing national approaches on issues such as finance, technology and human resources, it will work closely with the College of Policing, which is responsible for developing professional standards.

ACPO’s core role of bringing together the expertise of police leadership to coordinate operational policing and agree national approaches in the public interest will be transferred into the body. The aim is to develop a modernised and improved coordinating body that will be sustainable and effective in supporting policing in delivering at the national level for the public.

The new coordinating body will be hosted by the Metropolitan Police and the company limited by guarantee will be dissolved.

ACPO President Sir Hugh Orde said:

“Chief constables have met this week to make key decisions about how a new body coordinating operational policing at the national level will operate. It is right that the leaders of the service take these decisions and this is an exciting new chapter in police leaders’ work. It is essential that this process takes place seamlessly and with as little disruption to operational policing as possible.

“To help create this seamlessness, I have decided to step down as President of ACPO around the end of the year in order to allow chief officers to elect a leader who will lead the new body.

“I have made this decision after a lot of thought and after five years of having the immense privilege of leading a team of dedicated, talented and tireless chief officers whose passion for protecting their communities has been unabated in the face of changing modes of crime, seismic shifts in the policing landscape and the impact of austerity on the service.

“I want to thank my colleagues all for their support and comradeship, along with all those others that I have served with in 37 years as an officer.”

The functions of the coordinating body are to be:

• Co-ordination of national operations including defining, monitoring and testing force contributions to the Strategic Policing Requirement.
• Command of counter terrorism operations and delivery of counter terrorist policing through the national network as set out in the S22A agreement.
• Co-ordination of the national police response to national emergencies and the mobilisation of resources across force borders and internationally.
• National operational implementation of standards and policy as set by the College of Policing and Government.
• Working with the College, development of joint national approaches on criminal justice, value for money, service transformation, information management, performance management and technology.
• Working with the College (where appropriate), development of joint national approaches to staff and human resource issues (including misconduct and discipline) in line with Chief Constables’ responsibilities as employers.

For more information contact:

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