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Policing 'major rethink needed' Call for major review of policing
(30 minutes later)
A fundamental and independent review of the long-term direction of policing is needed, says the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers. A fundamental and independent review of the long-term direction of policing is needed, the head of the Association of Chief Police Officers has said.
Ken Jones will tell the Acpo conference in Manchester the world has changed - and police duties with it - since the last such appraisal 50 years ago. Ken Jones told the Acpo conference in Manchester that the world - and police duties - had changed.
The review should "position the service strategically to be fit for purpose for the next 20 years", he will say. The review should "position the service strategically to be fit for purpose for the next 20 years", he said.
Prime minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown is addressing delegates. Gordon Brown told the conference he wanted "to do more to protect and enhance our British way of life".
In his first major speech on law and order since being confirmed as the next prime minister, the chancellor will talk about the police as the "face of law and order" as well as discussing their role in tackling terrorism.
New threats
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said senior officers believed the police service was at a crossroads with a long period of investment ending and officer numbers beginning to fall.BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said senior officers believed the police service was at a crossroads with a long period of investment ending and officer numbers beginning to fall.
At the same time, the duties and responsibilities of the police appeared to be growing more demanding.At the same time, the duties and responsibilities of the police appeared to be growing more demanding.
Simple, comforting notions don't match our complex world Ken JonesAcpo president The service was "becoming overstretched", while there was a "growing divergence of views about the role and purpose of policing", Mr Jones will say.
"The decision now has to be how we position the service strategically to be fit for purpose for the next 20 years."
He adds that the process of deciding that strategy has to take into account aspects of the "wider world", including:
  • the "ever present" threat of terrorism
  • emergence of new national and international organised crime tactics
  • effects of the "information age"
  • mass migration of people and capital
Mr Jones will call for reform of a system of "targets, fiscal discipline, rewards and sanctions" imposed by government.
"What was initially efficient became inefficient, becoming distracting and soaking up resource," he will say.
'Complex world'
"We must recognise always that the test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, and not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with them."
Mr Jones will acknowledge the "deep attachment" to the "bobby on the beat".
But he will add: "Simple, comforting notions don't match our complex world. This is not the 1800s, no longer the 1950s.
"This is the 21st Century and policing is a many-layered activity whose strength depends on connectivity."
It is high time the government accept that quick wins and part measures are not sufficient Jan BerryPolice Federation chairman Mr Jones will say that the public face the lowest risk of being a victim of crime for more than 25 years.
"The service is achieving more and delivering a better service.
"We have seen reductions across the board in most crime categories and have led a renaissance in local policing.
"We have continued to confront and meet the international terrorism threat."
Police Federation chairman Jan Berry said it had been making the case for a policing review and was delighted at the backing from Acpo.Police Federation chairman Jan Berry said it had been making the case for a policing review and was delighted at the backing from Acpo.
"It is high time the government accept that quick wins and part measures are not sufficient to address the problems that have built up over the years," she said."It is high time the government accept that quick wins and part measures are not sufficient to address the problems that have built up over the years," she said.
'Non-political''Non-political'
The last such review, in the early 1960s, led to the tripartite system of police governance and accountability, involving the home secretary, police authorities and forces.The last such review, in the early 1960s, led to the tripartite system of police governance and accountability, involving the home secretary, police authorities and forces.
Earlier, Mr Jones told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We are being asked to do more and more things, which we are taking on willingly, but the fact is that we can't do everything."Earlier, Mr Jones told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We are being asked to do more and more things, which we are taking on willingly, but the fact is that we can't do everything."
For example, he said there was "right and proper" investment in neighbourhood policing but at the same time police were being "pulled in the other direction" with increasing roles in countering organised crime and terrorism.For example, he said there was "right and proper" investment in neighbourhood policing but at the same time police were being "pulled in the other direction" with increasing roles in countering organised crime and terrorism.
He said that while the government of the day clearly needed to have its say, politics should be "taken out of the equation" for the purposes of the review. He said that, while the government of the day clearly needed to have its say, politics should be "taken out of the equation" for the purposes of the review.
That would enable it to have broader support and survive long-term, he said.That would enable it to have broader support and survive long-term, he said.
Mr Jones said he was not calling for a reinstatement of plans to merge some police forces, which faced strong opposition.Mr Jones said he was not calling for a reinstatement of plans to merge some police forces, which faced strong opposition.
The Home Office proposals were all but abandoned last year after the only two forces to be actively seeking a merger said it would not be possible on cost grounds.The Home Office proposals were all but abandoned last year after the only two forces to be actively seeking a merger said it would not be possible on cost grounds.