Meeting over police authority reform bid

Proposed reforms to a police watchdog in Staffordshire which would see members elected to its board instead of appointed have sparked concern from officers.

Under the Government's plans Staffordshire Police fear they would become answerable to local councils as well as the Home Office which could have conflicting demands. And they said there is no evidence to suggest that there is a "democratic deficit" which could be improved by holding elections to choose who would sit on the Staffordshire Police Authority.

The authority is made up of councillors and members who are appointed to the role because of expertise.

The Green Paper on Policing proposes allowing council representatives on police authorities to be directly elected rather than just appointing the councillor in charge of safety.

Staffordshire Police Authority is to meet later this week to discuss the paper but a report claims the move could create "unnecessary tensions" because the police will be "facing two ways at once and accountable to both".

Authority chief executive Alan Wallis said: "The Staffordshire Police Authority feels most strongly that the 'democratic deficit' is a hypothesis and is not evidence-based, nor is the case for change supported by any business plan to suggest that police authorities are in some way failing in the performance of their roles.

"The mechanics for achieving the objectives set out in the Green Paper are themselves fraught with difficulty over timing, constituency and legal issues."

The authority has instead proposed separate boards with councillors elected to them which could "give local people a real sense of involvement in shaping and influencing the provision of local policing services".

The authority is to meet at 11.30am on Wednesday, at Police Headquarters in Stafford.