Police Superintendents’ Association: Appointment of new Home Secretary
The new Home Secretary, Theresa May, faces difficult challenges in her new role and has been urged by senior officers to take audacious and innovative moves to restructure the Police Service to tackle the current growing demands.
Chief Superintendent Derek Barnett welcomed the appointment of Mrs May and wished her well in her new post, offering the Association’s full support.
He said: ‘Mrs May takes office in what are difficult times, and I recognise that she will face many challenges over the coming months.
‘We will work with the new team at the Home Office to maintain and build upon significant reductions in crime, rising public trust and confidence and to ensure that we continue to provide a world class and professional police service that is responsive to the needs of our communities.
‘Against the difficult financial background, the Police Service will also need to demonstrate continued pursuit of improvements in productivity and delivering value for money. The Service is already committed to delivering substantial savings. However, if further efficiencies are to be achieved, a more radical approach to how policing is delivered, financed, governed and structured is necessary.
‘This Association has long argued that the current structures of policing are not fit for purpose to meet the twin challenges of maintaining and improving performance in a complex and fast changing world, and also delivering gains in productivity and value for money. They do not encourage radical reform of policing and are incapable of providing the step change in delivering value for money. The current structure of 43 Home Office forces promotes duplication of effort and resources, inconsistent standards and policy implementation and does not deliver economies of scale.
‘We face exceptional circumstances and it is in my view the time to be audacious and innovative.
‘There have been quite amazing improvements in the use of technology and science to assist the Service in fighting crime and protecting the public. We urgently seek clear political leadership and understanding of the issues that balance the protection of communities against those of individual liberties. The Police Service can provide a professional view but we do require a public debate about how Government, on behalf of the people, wish to utilise the advances in science and technology.’
Chief Superintendent Barnett said it would be critical for the Home Secretary to take the Service with her in any new reforms and promised her: ‘Please be assured that I and my Association stand ready to work with you.’
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