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Police Authority hits out at elected commissioner plans
Organisation which oversees policing reckons plans would be an expensive and unpopular leap in the dark
The organisation which oversees policing across the county has announced its opposition to the government's plans to introduce elected police commissioners.
Beds Police Authority said the scheme would be likely to increase bureaucracy, reduce expertise, and that there would be little public appetite for electing police bosses.
Penny Fletcher, an independent member of the authority, said: "These plans have been rushed through and there is little or no clarity in critical areas, such as the cost implications.
"It is estimated that these elections will cost in the region of 50million in this 'age of austerity' we are supposed to be doing everything we can to reduce costs.
"We have no indication yet on the salary for this much-vaunted individual, but looking at the responsibility and scope of the role, the pay will have to be commensurate with that of the chief constable. And then there is the support structure, the police and crime panels etc etc. It will all cost money. "
Beds Police Authority is asking members of the public for their views on the proposed changes.
However Mrs Fletcher pointed to the fact that only 25 per cent of the local electorate turned out to vote for the first elected Mayor of Bedford, and said that by its own admission the Home Office was not sure of a high turn-out for police commissioners.
She said: "We have serious concerns that the sheer election process will mean that only those with a campaign mechanism, such as political parties, or those who are appropriately funded will be able to stand. Not many people will fall into this bracket.
"If the new proposals get the green light, chief constables will be hired and fired by an individual who has been elected on a manifesto of specific aims and objectives and probably ambitious promises.
"There does not appear to be any clarification on suitable experience or skills for the role, and it's hard to see where impartiality can lie in these circumstances."
To register your view with Beds Police Authority, log on to www.bedfordshirepoliceauthority.co.uk and answer the questions on the home page.
You can also let the Times & Citizen know your opinion by emailing editorial@timesandcitizen.co.uk
A full version of this story will appear in Thursday's Times & Citizen.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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