Press statement from Police and Crime Commissioners on the independent review of ACPO

PRESS STATEMENT FROM POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONERS

10.09.2013

Former military chief to lead independent review of ACPO

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) and Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) have announced that recently retired military chief General Sir Nick Parker KCB, CBE, will lead an independent review of the role and functions of the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Commenting on the announcement Sir Nick, who has considerable experience of working with the police and local authorities in the United Kingdom, said:

“Police and Crime Commissioners have asked me to look at the role played by ACPO in the new policing landscape. They largely fund the organisation and want to ensure that it is fit for purpose, both operationally and financially, delivering the appropriate capabilities in a manner that is sustainable and exemplifies a cost effective use of public money. This is clearly an important and timely piece of work and I feel honoured to have been asked to carry it out.”

Matthew Ellis, Staffordshire PCC, Martyn Underhill, Dorset PCC and Jane Kennedy, Merseyside PCC representing the three political groups have said:

“We respect the operational independence of the police but as representatives of the public we need to ensure that ACPO continues to have relevance to the policing challenges of today. With the creation of the College of Policing and National Crime Agency we felt it was timely to look at where ACPO fits into the new landscape and establish both how it contributes and how it should be sustained into the future. We felt it was important that this review was subject to independent rigour by a figure with significant operational experience.”

“We are pleased that General Sir Nick Parker has agreed to independently lead the review and present his recommendations to us by the end of November. General Sir Nick Parker successfully led the London Olympics security support that required over 18,500 personnel. He knows first-hand what is takes to mount a domestic security operation to protect the public and is a highly experienced professional.”

Sir Hugh Orde, President of the Association of Chief Police Officers said:

“Chief Officers worked closely with PCCs to agree ACPO funding for 2013/14 and support this more fundamental and strategic review as a logical next step. The public and police strongly benefit from the facility for operational leaders to meet, act and speak collectively but the shifting national landscape in policing and the particular role of Police and Crime Commissioners mean that it is timely to look again at how ACPOs national support to operational policing can be sustained and delivered in future. We look forward to working with General Sir Nick Parker.”

Ends.

Notes to Editors

1. For interviews / further information please contact Joel Charles on 07703 124 174.

2. 41 Police and Crime Commissioners replaced Police Authorities on 22.11.12 following elections in every police force area outside London in England and Wales on November 15th 2012.

3. At the APCC AGM on the 21st March, PCCs established a working group to carry out a review of ACPO.

A summary of the terms of reference for the working group is provided below.

To work with ACPO to present a report to APCC members on the;

• Future role and necessary functions
• Stewardship, management and relationship with policing governance bodies
• Present financial situation and efficient and effective operation
• Future sustainable funding model based on a commitment to drive costs down

ACPO PCC working group members;

Simon Duckworth, City of London Police Committee

Matthew Ellis, Staffordshire PCC

Jane Kennedy, Merseyside PCC

Martyn Underhill, Dorset PCC

4. For the definitive list of PCCs and more information about the Board of the Association of PCCs please visit www.apccs.police.uk

5. The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) offers the following services to PCCs:

• Information on national policing policy issues and legislation.
• Consults PCCs to enable them to develop policy positions and to influence change.
• Facilitates the leadership of PCCs on national governance structures such as the College of Policing, National Crime Agency and Police Professional Bodies.
• Assists PCCs in collaborating to share practice, procure services, and identify ways to achieve efficiencies through working together.

For more information please contact:

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