ACPO President Sir Hugh Orde responds to Home Affairs Select Committee report - Police and Crime Commissioners: power to remove Chief Constables

ACPO President Sir Hugh Orde said:

“ACPO has been very clear that how Chief Constables are held to account is a decision for Parliament. We have also been very clear that operational independence is essential to the British policing model. Police chiefs have to be able to make important operational decisions without concerns that the decision could prove unpopular and they could lose their job as a result. We agree with Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) that for the constitutional relationship between Chief Constable and Police and Crime Commissioner to be misunderstood is unsatisfactory, and therefore we look forward to the opportunity to discuss these issues with the Home Secretary.

“It is important to recognise that while there have been some well publicised disagreements between Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, the evidence to date is that most relationships are constructive and professional.”

For more information please contact:

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk