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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Police review proposes shake-up | Police review proposes shake-up |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A draft report on the future of policing in England and Wales suggests that civilian staff can perform many duties better than police officers. | A draft report on the future of policing in England and Wales suggests that civilian staff can perform many duties better than police officers. |
| The comments appear in a wide-ranging review by Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the Chief Inspector of Constabulary. | The comments appear in a wide-ranging review by Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the Chief Inspector of Constabulary. |
| The report, to be published later, proposes major cuts to bureaucracy and says only about 10% of policing tasks require fully-trained police officers. | The report, to be published later, proposes major cuts to bureaucracy and says only about 10% of policing tasks require fully-trained police officers. |
| But the Police Federation warned it could lead to a "de-skilled" force. | |
| 'Radical overhaul' needed | 'Radical overhaul' needed |
| According to BBC home affairs correspondent, Danny Shaw, it is the section on modernising the workforce that is most controversial. | According to BBC home affairs correspondent, Danny Shaw, it is the section on modernising the workforce that is most controversial. |
| The report says that when civilian staff are trained to carry out duties, such as taking statements, the evidence suggests they do so "more effectively", and that "further work" is needed to explore this approach. | The report says that when civilian staff are trained to carry out duties, such as taking statements, the evidence suggests they do so "more effectively", and that "further work" is needed to explore this approach. |
| However, Jan Berry, chairwoman of the Police Federation in England and Wales warned such a move could lead to a lesser-skilled police force. | |
| "It produces a completely different kind of police service, one that's only dealing with confrontational situations, like a paramilitary force. | "It produces a completely different kind of police service, one that's only dealing with confrontational situations, like a paramilitary force. |
| "That's not the police service that traditionally this country had, and we have got to be very careful before we fall into that type of police service." | "That's not the police service that traditionally this country had, and we have got to be very careful before we fall into that type of police service." |
| The report follows criticism from the Police Federation in Cumbria that Community Support Officers (CSOs) were replacing regular officers. | The report follows criticism from the Police Federation in Cumbria that Community Support Officers (CSOs) were replacing regular officers. |
| And in September former home secretary David Blunkett criticised two CSOs who did not attempt to rescue a 10-year-old boy who drowned in a pond in Wigan. | And in September former home secretary David Blunkett criticised two CSOs who did not attempt to rescue a 10-year-old boy who drowned in a pond in Wigan. |
| The officers said they were untrained in rescues and had "acted correctly". | The officers said they were untrained in rescues and had "acted correctly". |
| 'Dingy surroundings' | 'Dingy surroundings' |
| In his report, Sir Ronnie also calls for a "radical overhaul" of police station reception areas and the service provided to the public. | In his report, Sir Ronnie also calls for a "radical overhaul" of police station reception areas and the service provided to the public. |
| "Dingy surroundings, out-of-date posters and poor or slow service," he says, "have a negative impact on public satisfaction and confidence.£ | "Dingy surroundings, out-of-date posters and poor or slow service," he says, "have a negative impact on public satisfaction and confidence.£ |
| The report also criticises the Home Office. | The report also criticises the Home Office. |
| It describes the decision to withdraw funding from the national non-emergency telephone number, 101, as "deeply regrettable". | It describes the decision to withdraw funding from the national non-emergency telephone number, 101, as "deeply regrettable". |
| Sir Ronnie has an extensive track record of managing police forces. | Sir Ronnie has an extensive track record of managing police forces. |
| He is best known for his former job in his native Northern Ireland, where he was Chief Constable of both the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Royal Ulster Constabulary. | He is best known for his former job in his native Northern Ireland, where he was Chief Constable of both the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Royal Ulster Constabulary. |
| During his time at the helm, he presided over some of the biggest changes in policing and witnessed some of the most significant events in Northern Ireland's recent history, including the Good Friday Agreement and Omagh bomb. | During his time at the helm, he presided over some of the biggest changes in policing and witnessed some of the most significant events in Northern Ireland's recent history, including the Good Friday Agreement and Omagh bomb. |