Sir Norman Bettison, Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police and ACPO lead on protective services said:
“ACPO supported proposals to move to a smaller number of strategically-sized forces emerging from the 2005 report to government entitled ‘Closing the gap’. That report identified the significant threats facing the police service, such as serious and organised crime and terrorism, which were beyond the means and boundaries of individual police forces. Its recommendation was to amalgamate the 43 police forces in order to create police organisations of sufficient size and capability to tackle those serious risks.
“The government decided not to merge police forces and, since that time, it has encouraged forces to work collectively to address the threats.
“There has been a great deal of collaborative effort and success that is not given sufficient regard in the recommendations of this latest report. For instance, there is an ACPO-led counter terrorism structure which has brought together capability and capacity to address terrorism in a strategic and effective fashion. Similarly there is multi-force cooperation around procurement and the provision of forensic science facilities. Furthermore, many parts of the country have witnessed the emergence of regional collaboration around such areas as serious and organised crime.
“What this latest HMIC report highlights, however, is that this response is patchy and more effort is required in planning to address the operational risks and to maximise the opportunities for efficiency around the country. ACPO supports the ongoing work coordinated by the Home Office with a view to addressing those gaps and opportunities.
“Some of the obstacles towards moving towards greater collaboration arise because different police authorities have variable sunk costs and perceive different levels of benefit in working across boundaries. Furthermore, different police force areas have different priorities, which sometimes are a barrier to greater collaboration.
“This report deals with aspects of policing that can’t be delivered at a local level alone. The facts, however, are that policing in this country is designed to provide a neighbourhood service. In its structures, finance and governance, policing is directed towards 43 separate police authorities. ACPO has made recommendations to government, on the back of this HMIC report, as to how to address these barriers. We look forward to making further progress, supported by the HMIC evidence in this report.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors
• The ACPO Press Office can be contacted via 020 7084 8946/47/48 (office hours) or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).
• The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is an independent, professionally led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with Government and the Association of Police Authorities, ACPO leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, coordinates the strategic policing response.
• ACPO’s 341 members are police officers of Assistant Chief Constable rank (Commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, and senior police staff managers, in the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and other forces such as British Transport Police and States of Jersey Police.
