Meeting documents
Overview and Scrutiny Committee (DCC)
Monday 10 November 2008
Meeting: Overview and Scrutiny Committee (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 2 - 10/11/2008 10:00:00 AM)
Item: A6 Policing Green Paper- Consultation- Report of Head of Overview and Scrutiny
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| Report of Head of Overview and Scrutiny | |
1 To inform members of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee (OSMC) of the response to the Policing Green Paper “From the Neighbourhood to the National: Policing our Communities Together”, from Durham Police Authority and the joint response from the County Council and the Community Safety Partnership Board.
Information
2 The Policing Green Paper forms part of the Home Office’s wider Police Reform programme. The government want to create a police service which is more responsive to local needs. The deadline for responses was 10 October 2008.
3 The County Council and Community Safety Partnership have submitted a response (DCC response approved by Cabinet on 9 October 2008) attached at appendix 1.Durham Police Authority has also submitted a response attached at appendix 2.
4 One of the more contentious issues raised in the green paper is to do with proposals for the election of Crime and Policing Representations (CPRs) who will sit on (and form a majority of) the police authority, and chair the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.
5 This has not been supported by both responses as it is likely that this would potentially undermine the democratically elected representative role in Police Authorities. Democratically elected members of local government should continue to have a major influence in relation to crime and disorder. There is a danger that there will be a lack of consistency and understanding between Local Authority elected members and the Police and that this will impact on the democratic mandate that elected members have to represent their communities and contribute to the work of the police service.
6 Working with both the APA and APACE (Association of Police Authority Chief
Executives) Durham Police Authority has played an instrumental role in leading the review of options for policing accountability. The Members of Durham Police Authority have proposed to government to support “the Durham Model” outlined in their bid as an enhancement to Police Authorities in their present form. Members felt that the Durham Model was more in tune with realising the outcomes that the Green Paper sets out to achieve.
Recommendation
7 That members of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee note both consultation responses.
| Contact: Feisal Jassat, Head of Overview and Scrutiny Tel: 0191 3506 E-Mail: feisal.jassat@durham.gov.uk To view other Reports, please refer to PDF attachments or Hard Copies located in the Record Office or Corporate Services. |
Attachments
Board and DCC Policing Paper Consultation Response.pdf;
Durham Police Authority Green_paper_response in Home Office format.pdf;
Cover report for OSMC 10 Nov Police Green Paper 281008.pdf