Law and Rights
It is reported that the Home Office Minister of State - Mr Nick Herbert MP has informed the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee that the role of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in relation to control of any operational police units is to be brought to an end. This follows (a) concern about the role of ACPO in the control of certain unit set up to combat "extremism" - see Climate Change Protest No. 3 and also, to be fair, (b) some concern within ACPO itself about the accountability of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU). Mr Herbert has particular responsibility within the Home Office for Policing and Criminal Justice. This indication of a move to ensure that there is political and legal accountability for these activities is to be welcomed. It appears that changes will be made to ensure that either a "lead Police Force" or the yet-to-be-created National Crime Agency will assume responsibility for these activities. (See also Policing in the 21st Century).
It also appears that the Association of Police Authorities (APA) has decided that it no longer has the funds to provide money to ACPO - see The Guardian 18th January 2011. The Home Secretary has written to them to request a reconsideration of this decision but, of course, you either have the cash or you don't !! The government has proposed the abolition of the Police Authorities and intends to have elected Police Commissioners instead - see Police and Social Responsibility Bill. The APA opposes those proposals and refers to the Police Commissioners as "US-style solo sheriffs" - see their Press release.
- How Extensive Is All This Surveillance? ... And Some Other Items
The Guardian 3rd May carried the story of Mr John Catt (aged 86) who, it seems, has had his presence at peaceful protests systematically logged by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU) for some 4 years. He has been given permission...
- A New Direction For The Police ? Sir Hugh Orde On The Future Of Acpo And Comments About Protests And Undercover Officers
Sir Hugh Orde - President of the Association of Chief Police Officers - has set out a view that there is a "strong case" for looking at reconfiguring Police structures to match evolving threats and risk to the public in the 21st century - see ACPO website...
- Climate Change Protesters - No.3 - I Was Just Wondering ...
The former Police Officer (Mark Kennedy) who infiltrated climate change activists has sold his story to the Mail on Sunday. Such stories are almost always self-serving but it is an interesting account - see Mail Sunday 16th January 2010. A...
- Elected Police Commissioners. Is This A Good Move?
The previous post on this blog took an early overview of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill presented to Parliament on 1st December. Existing Police Authorities will be abolished and there will be elected Police and Crime Commissioners. ...
- Acpo: Police Reform: Many Questions But Few Answers
The Association of Chief Police Officers (or ACPO) is, without any doubt, a body well-placed to exercise enormous influence on government policy relating to law and order. ACPO is a "Private Company Limited by Guarantee" but it receives funding from the...
Law and Rights
Climate Change Protests - No.4 - Role of ACPO to be changed
It also appears that the Association of Police Authorities (APA) has decided that it no longer has the funds to provide money to ACPO - see The Guardian 18th January 2011. The Home Secretary has written to them to request a reconsideration of this decision but, of course, you either have the cash or you don't !! The government has proposed the abolition of the Police Authorities and intends to have elected Police Commissioners instead - see Police and Social Responsibility Bill. The APA opposes those proposals and refers to the Police Commissioners as "US-style solo sheriffs" - see their Press release.
- How Extensive Is All This Surveillance? ... And Some Other Items
The Guardian 3rd May carried the story of Mr John Catt (aged 86) who, it seems, has had his presence at peaceful protests systematically logged by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU) for some 4 years. He has been given permission...
- A New Direction For The Police ? Sir Hugh Orde On The Future Of Acpo And Comments About Protests And Undercover Officers
Sir Hugh Orde - President of the Association of Chief Police Officers - has set out a view that there is a "strong case" for looking at reconfiguring Police structures to match evolving threats and risk to the public in the 21st century - see ACPO website...
- Climate Change Protesters - No.3 - I Was Just Wondering ...
The former Police Officer (Mark Kennedy) who infiltrated climate change activists has sold his story to the Mail on Sunday. Such stories are almost always self-serving but it is an interesting account - see Mail Sunday 16th January 2010. A...
- Elected Police Commissioners. Is This A Good Move?
The previous post on this blog took an early overview of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill presented to Parliament on 1st December. Existing Police Authorities will be abolished and there will be elected Police and Crime Commissioners. ...
- Acpo: Police Reform: Many Questions But Few Answers
The Association of Chief Police Officers (or ACPO) is, without any doubt, a body well-placed to exercise enormous influence on government policy relating to law and order. ACPO is a "Private Company Limited by Guarantee" but it receives funding from the...