Chair's Blog

I’m Councillor Jacqui Rayment, Chair of Hampshire Police Authority, and I am proud to say this is my fifth year as Chair of the Authority.

The blog is a less formal way to share my views and interests on what is going on in the policing world, updating members of the public on key national and local policing matters.

I shall be regularly updating this page so please look out for new posts.

Busy, Busy, Busy 27 April 2012 At the last full authority meeting Members agreed to progress the joint working with Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service in a number of areas, including Learning and Development, Transport and Fleet Management, Estate, Facilities Management, Media and Corporate Communications and Research & Analysis. Joint working across these areas presents opportunities to improve the service performance, quality and innovation whilst securing greater operational resilience and future capacity in the services being considered. It was, however, decided that the main business case requires more clarification before Members can make a fully informed decision; it will therefore come back to the authority for further consideration. The terms for our Independent Members have been extended until 22 November 2012, however, following the local elections at the beginning of May we will be welcoming at least one new member to the Authority. Councillor Paula Richies has chosen not to stand for re-election, we are very grateful to Paula for all her hard work during her two terms on the authority. Most recently she has sat on the Personnel and Professional Standard Committee scrutinising the development of Constabulary staff and officers including complaints and grievances; and on the Community Engagement Committee where she ensured that the views and opinions of the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are listened to and fed into the policing plan, which was published on 30 March. During her time she has represented the authority at a number of community engagement events such as the ‘Policing through the ages’ event at Gunwharf Quays. It’s very heartening to learn that crime is down across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for the fifth year in a row and the number of offences solved by the police is up from 28% to 31%. So on behalf of the Police Authority I would like to thank all the officers and staff who have helped to drive down crime, increase the number of offences solved and make our communities safer places to live, work and visit. Looking forward, we are going to be inspected by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) on how prepared we are for the transition from the authority to the Police and Crime Commissioner, who will be elected on 15 November. The first visit will be a support and challenge meeting on 31 May. The authority has been working on preparing for transition, with our partners, for over a year and would hope all our hard-work is reflected in the inspection findings.
Preparing for PCCs 20 March 2012 Alongside the business as usual work undertaken by the Police Authority including the setting of the policing element of Council Tax, the policing priorities and the Constabulary's performance targets for 2012-13 we have also been working hard to ensure the smooth transition to the new PCC. In February we held the 'Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act Conference - Transitioning with partners to a new policing governance structure'. A total of 114 delegates attended from a wide range of partners including Local Authorities, Community Safety Partnerships, Voluntary Sector, Probation, Health, Youth Offending, UK Border Agency, Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire Fire and Rescue, and regional Police Authorities. The conference explained how the transition from the Police Authority to a Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) may affect each organisation, provided details of how to set up a successful Police and Crime Panel and explored the possible relationship between the PCC and community safety partnerships. A number of interesting and informative presentations were provided throughout the day which can be found on the following link. The Governance Transitional Board has met twice, the Transition Coordination Partnership Group had their inaugural meeting in February, we have also written to all police staff via email and the intranet to inform you of the transfer of employment and the Authority is meeting weekly with the Constabulary to ensure a joint approach to transition. Finally, the Authority will continue to work hard to ensure both the smooth transition and business as usual, speaking of which it was good to see so much support at the recent Rock Challenge events. I was also delighted to accompany John Bennett, one of our Independent Custody Visitors, to the NPIA awards, and would one again like to congratulate him on receiving the Outstanding Contribution to Governance and Accountability Award.
Decisions, Decisions 1 March 2012 At the Police Authority meeting on 14 February we took a number of important decisions. Members debated, for three hours, the implications of increasing the policing element of Council Tax by 3.25 per cent or freezing the policing element of Council Tax and taking the government grant equivalent to 3 per cent. After the fourth vote the recommendation was amended to the following ‘In view of the fact the Police Authority is unable to achieve a clear result some Police Authority Members reluctantly vote for Option 2.’ A number of Members changed their voting position to move out of deadlock and the new proposed recommendation was accepted, 11 votes for and 6 votes against. This meant Hampshire Police Authority agreed to freeze the policing element of Council Tax keeping this part of the Council Tax bill for a Band D household £146.25 for the year. This difficult decision made by the Police Authority is reflective of the majority of precepting authorities who have opted to take the Grant being offered from government rather than transferring the cost to Hampshire taxpayers. During the meeting Members endorsed the progress being made on new custody suites and reducing the number of buildings we use. Members also took the decision to establish a small headquarters in Mottisfont Court, Winchester and for Alpha Park to be used to house several HQ/force-wide functions such as the force enquiry centre, vehicle workshops, scenes of crime, driver training, print services, uniform stores and a small central archive facility. Finally, I would like to welcome our two new members of staff. Marion Boyes our new Business and Transition Manager and Nadia Siouty on secondment from the Force as our Senior Project Support Officer. Marion will be replacing Jean Snowsill’s role following her retirement and supporting transition.
Money, money, money 6 February 2012 This is the time of year when difficult decisions have to be made, and the current economic climate means the Authority is looking even more closely at the pennies to ensure we are giving the public value for money from their police force. With the country is facing financial challenges and the reductions in Government grants it has certainly provided a challenging environment for us to work in. This year Hampshire Police Authority is being provided with a couple of options for the budget in relation to the level of Council Tax for policing. One option which is favoured by the Chief Constable and the Federation is to increase the policing element of Council Tax to maintain the level of policing for years to come. The other option is to freeze the policing element of the Council Tax and take the government grant which will be equivalent to 3 per cent, however, this could have an impact on the level of funding in subsequent years. The final decision on the budget and the precept level will be made at the full police authority meeting on 14 February. During this meeting the Authority will also agree the policing for 2012-15 setting the priorities for the next three years and we will set the Constabulary’s performance targets for 2012-13. We have always expected a lot from our constabulary and this year will be no different, as we build on the successes of previous years by continuing to set challenging targets. The targets are based on the priorities identified by the Authority, constabulary and partners through engagement with the communities of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Happy New Year 4 January 2012 On behalf of the Members of the Police Authority, I would like to wish you and your families a Happy New Year. I want to place on record my appreciation for the hard work of everyone who was working over Christmas and the New Year, making sure the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight were as safe as possible. This will be a very busy and challenging year for the Police Authority as we continue with business as usual while also continuing our preparations to ensure a smooth transition to the directly elected Police and Crime Commissioner who shall take over the governance of the Constabulary in November.
Police Integrity 15 December 2011 The HMIC report on Police Integrity was published on Tuesday; the report found the concerns of inappropriate relationships and corruption is not endemic. The review included relations with the media, disclosure of information, hospitality, gratuities, procurement, contracts and business interests. HMIC examined the data (where available), systems to proactively seek out wrong doing, the work of governing bodies, corporate governance and oversight, training, intelligence and enforcement. We have one of the least corrupt police services in the world, no evidence was found of systemic corruption in policing, but there were individual cases where police officers let their colleagues and the public down. In Hampshire we have a dedicated team to investigate allegations of corruption and policies and procedures to ensure Hampshire Constabulary is highly accountable. The review highlights the need to continually develop safeguards and the need to keep pace with new developments in technology which is why Hampshire Constabulary has developed their social media policy. We were pleased to receive informal feedback from HMIC that our policies and procedures were of a high standard. The Authority is not complacent and will continue to ensure that the Constabulary’s policies and procedures are fit for purpose.
Royal Visit 24 October 2011 After a few weeks off on leave I came back to a very special event! To mark the final major milestone in what is one of the biggest projects we have ever undertaken HRH Princess Royal officially opened Southampton Central police station on Tuesday 18 October. I am extremely proud of the new Southampton Police Station which represents a major investment in the city by the Police Authority. Reaching the official opening has taken much hard work, determination and negotiation to ensure taxpayers are getting the best value for money. The station provides the biggest custody facility in the county, a modern working environment for our officers and staff, and a focal point for policing in the city. The modern, purpose-built facilities have allowed us to centralise many policing services under one roof for the first time, bringing greater operational efficiencies through departments being brought together in one location. Most importantly it provides an improved working environment for those based there, and improved accessibility to police services for the public. I honoured in invited HRH Princess Royal to officially open the building by unveiling the plaque. It has taken over a decade from the inception of this project through to the completion and over the past few years I have seen the building grow into the striking landmark it is today. Standing at the gateway to the city the building provides a visible reminder to all residents that we are working at the heart of your community to make Southampton a safer place for everyone.
Police Reform 15 September 2011 We are coming to the end of the most important week for Police Reform and I feel it’s important to share with you the news that last night the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill completed its Parliamentary Passage and Royal Assent is expected today. This will mean Hampshire Police Authority will be abolished from November 2012 and the first election for the Police and Crime Commissioner of Hampshire will be held on 15 November 2012. This is a very sad day for Police Authorities across England and Wales and personally I am hugely disappointed. The 17 Members of Hampshire Police Authority have worked extremely hard to ensure efficient and effective policing for the communities of Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. However, we are not gone yet! I want to assure readers that we will continue to hold Hampshire Constabulary to account and act as your voice on policing issues. Our primary concern will always be making our communities even safer places.
PCC Elections Postponed? 7 September 2011 I wanted to update readers following the announcement of the amendments that are to be moved in the House of Commons relating to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill; the most significant being moving the proposed Police and Crime Commissioner election from May 2012 to November 2012. Whilst I welcome the suggested delay I share our public's belief that the Police and Crime Commissioner will not be better than the current Police Authority model nor will it adequately represent the 1.9 million people of Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. By having a stand alone election, I am concerned there will be a huge increase in election running costs at a time when Hampshire Police is facing significant cuts in funding. I believe this is the wrong reform at anytime and although I welcome the delay, I will use this six month reprieve to continue to oppose it.
Letter to MPs and Lords on Police Reform 6 September 2011 At the end of last week I wrote to the local MPs and Lords about legislation that will change policing governance. A copy of the letter is below 'Hampshire Police Authority is writing in advance of the final stages of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill. In light of recent events including phone hacking and the riots we write to respectfully ask you to reconsider the consequences of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill. Many of the lessons to be learnt regarding police integrity, relationships with the media, effective communications with the police and the budget cuts are still to be revealed. These lessons learnt and the implications of the recent events should be fully considered prior to the enactment of the revolutionary reform to policing governance in England and Wales. Furthermore, the public do not support the belief that Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) will be better than the current Police Authority model. A Hampshire and Isle of Wight survey indicated only 5% of the public support a PCC; if a PCC was supported by a panel, similar to the London Mayoral model support rose to 27.27%. A national poll Both nationwide polls* showed that 65% of the public would rather keep the present system, compared to 15% who would back PCCs. IPSOS MORI focus groups revealed that although there is some public appetite for a clearer focus for police accountability, they do not want power to be concentrated in the hands of one individual. Currently, 17 Members work extremely hard, as a team covering the interests of the whole force area. Public debate and dialogue ensure that governance of policing is effective and the best outcomes for local people are achieved. One of the greatest strengths of the Police Authority model is that the balance of political knowledge (represented by the 9 locally elected councillors reflecting the political proportionality across the area) coupled with business and diverse community knowledge brought by our 8 independent members, appointed following a rigorous competency based selection process founded on the Nolan Principles. The proposal that a Police and Crime Commissioner can adequately represent the area covered by Hampshire Constabulary (with its 1.9 Million residents, covering 1,600 Miles² from rural Hampshire to urban areas such as Southampton and the unique requirements of our county Island – the Isle of Wight), is difficult to comprehend when at a national level that area is covered by 20 Members of Parliament and at a local level by 701 councillors. Indeed, how would a Police and Crime Commissioner perhaps from Aldershot relate to Freshwater on the Isle of Wight? Independent analysis suggests that the cost of the proposed reforms (including transition) will be a minimum of £453m (2011/12 - 2015/16); over £100m more than the cost of running police authorities during the same period. The Authority appreciates no cost can be placed upon democratic participation, but election processes are expensive and planned at a time of significant public sector spending cuts. The Constabulary and the Authority are striving to make up to £50m in savings over the next four years, whilst fully committed to protecting our frontline officers and staff, so policing is more visible and accessible to our local communities. This is the linchpin of good governance. Yours sincerely, Jacqui Rayment Chair Hampshire Police Authority *Both nationwide polls: YouGov polled 2,391 adults for Liberty, published 30.03.11:http://bit.ly/fYgR9w and Opinion Matters polled 1,508 in February for the London Evening Standard:http://bit.ly/eR8jUf.'
The contrast could not be clearer? 18 August 2011 Hello, and welcome to my first blog post! Well, it certainly has been a challenging week for British policing. There has been rioting and incidents in London and other parts of the country, MPs have been called back to Parliament, plans for Bill Bratton (the retired American ‘supercop’) to advise the government on improving British policing, Boris Johnson saying he was opposed to the plans to cut police funding, and the Home Secretary’s speech on Police Reform in which she stated that Police Authority chairs are unaccountable, unelected and invisible! I am very disappointed, and frankly quite offended, by the Prime Minister’s dismissal of police authorities in the Commons debate last week, and by the Home Secretary’s claims. She stated on Tuesday that following last week’s riots, the contrast ‘could not be clearer’ between the London Mayor (as the Government’s declared ‘pilot’ for Directly Elected Police and Crime Commissioners), and Police Authority Chairs in other parts of the country. I’d like to take this opportunity to echo the comments, of the Chair of Kent Police Authority, Anne Barnes’ open letter to the PM and remind both the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary of all the hard work undertaken by police authorities during these difficult times. ‘Police Authority members from across Britain have attended Gold group planning meetings to ensure that police responses would be appropriate and proportionate, worked on Community Impact assessments with officers and community leaders, been out and about in their communities reassuring people and listening to their concerns. They have forged bridges between individuals and the police and other services. They have hit the airwaves to spread reassurance and calm, talked to local papers, stood shoulder to shoulder with their senior officers, giving them 100% support, canvassed local views about the policing response, written to all members of their force with their thanks for all their hard work and they will deal with the aftermath of the disorder too, not least the financial implications. In other words, they have done their job very visibly and very effectively.’ Finally I’d like to reiterate my comments in my open letter of thanks to police officers and staff and say how proud the Police Authority is of everyone no matter what role they played.

Busy, Busy, Busy

27 April 2012

At the last full authority meeting Members agreed to progress the joint working with Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service in a number of areas, including Learning and Development, Transport and Fleet Management, Estate, Facilities Management, Media and Corporate Communications and Research & Analysis. Joint working across these areas presents opportunities to improve the service performance, quality and innovation whilst securing greater operational resilience and future capacity in the services being considered.

It was, however, decided that the main business case requires more clarification before Members can make a fully informed decision; it will therefore come back to the authority for further consideration.

The terms for our Independent Members have been extended until 22 November 2012, however, following the local elections at the beginning of May we will be welcoming at least one new member to the Authority. Councillor Paula Richies has chosen not to stand for re-election, we are very grateful to Paula for all her hard work during her two terms on the authority. Most recently she has sat on the Personnel and Professional Standard Committee scrutinising the development of Constabulary staff and officers including complaints and grievances; and on the Community Engagement Committee where she ensured that the views and opinions of the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are listened to and fed into the policing plan, which was published on 30 March. During her time she has represented the authority at a number of community engagement events such as the ‘Policing through the ages’ event at Gunwharf Quays.

It’s very heartening to learn that crime is down across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for the fifth year in a row and the number of offences solved by the police is up from 28% to 31%. So on behalf of the Police Authority I would like to thank all the officers and staff who have helped to drive down crime, increase the number of offences solved and make our communities safer places to live, work and visit.

Looking forward, we are going to be inspected by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) on how prepared we are for the transition from the authority to the Police and Crime Commissioner, who will be elected on 15 November. The first visit will be a support and challenge meeting on 31 May. The authority has been working on preparing for transition, with our partners, for over a year and would hope all our hard-work is reflected in the inspection findings.

Preparing for PCCs

20 March 2012

Alongside the business as usual work undertaken by the Police Authority including the setting of the policing element of Council Tax, the policing priorities and the Constabulary's performance targets for 2012-13 we have also been working hard to ensure the smooth transition to the new PCC.

In February we held the 'Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act Conference - Transitioning with partners to a new policing governance structure'. A total of 114 delegates attended from a wide range of partners including Local Authorities, Community Safety Partnerships, Voluntary Sector, Probation, Health, Youth Offending, UK Border Agency, Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire Fire and Rescue, and regional Police Authorities.

The conference explained how the transition from the Police Authority to a Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) may affect each organisation, provided details of how to set up a successful Police and Crime Panel and explored the possible relationship between the PCC and community safety partnerships.

A number of interesting and informative presentations were provided throughout the day which can be found on the following link.

The Governance Transitional Board has met twice, the Transition Coordination Partnership Group had their inaugural meeting in February, we have also written to all police staff via email and the intranet to inform you of the transfer of employment and the Authority is meeting weekly with the Constabulary to ensure a joint approach to transition.

Finally, the Authority will continue to work hard to ensure both the smooth transition and business as usual, speaking of which it was good to see so much support at the recent Rock Challenge events. I was also delighted to accompany John Bennett, one of our Independent Custody Visitors, to the NPIA awards, and would one again like to congratulate him on receiving the Outstanding Contribution to Governance and Accountability Award.

Decisions, Decisions

1 March 2012

At the Police Authority meeting on 14 February we took a number of important decisions. Members debated, for three hours, the implications of increasing the policing element of Council Tax by 3.25 per cent or freezing the policing element of Council Tax and taking the government grant equivalent to 3 per cent.

After the fourth vote the recommendation was amended to the following ‘In view of the fact the Police Authority is unable to achieve a clear result some Police Authority Members reluctantly vote for Option 2.’

A number of Members changed their voting position to move out of deadlock and the new proposed recommendation was accepted, 11 votes for and 6 votes against. This meant Hampshire Police Authority agreed to freeze the policing element of Council Tax keeping this part of the Council Tax bill for a Band D household £146.25 for the year.

This difficult decision made by the Police Authority is reflective of the majority of precepting authorities who have opted to take the Grant being offered from government rather than transferring the cost to Hampshire taxpayers.

During the meeting Members endorsed the progress being made on new custody suites and reducing the number of buildings we use. Members also took the decision to establish a small headquarters in Mottisfont Court, Winchester and for Alpha Park to be used to house several HQ/force-wide functions such as the force enquiry centre, vehicle workshops, scenes of crime, driver training, print services, uniform stores and a small central archive facility.

Finally, I would like to welcome our two new members of staff. Marion Boyes our new Business and Transition Manager and Nadia Siouty on secondment from the Force as our Senior Project Support Officer. Marion will be replacing Jean Snowsill’s role following her retirement and supporting transition.

Money, money, money

6 February 2012

This is the time of year when difficult decisions have to be made, and the current economic climate means the Authority is looking even more closely at the pennies to ensure we are giving the public value for money from their police force.

With the country is facing financial challenges and the reductions in Government grants it has certainly provided a challenging environment for us to work in.

This year Hampshire Police Authority is being provided with a couple of options for the budget in relation to the level of Council Tax for policing. One option which is favoured by the Chief Constable and the Federation is to increase the policing element of Council Tax to maintain the level of policing for years to come. The other option is to freeze the policing element of the Council Tax and take the government grant which will be equivalent to 3 per cent, however, this could have an impact on the level of funding in subsequent years.

The final decision on the budget and the precept level will be made at the full police authority meeting on 14 February.

During this meeting the Authority will also agree the policing for 2012-15 setting the priorities for the next three years and we will set the Constabulary’s performance targets for 2012-13. We have always expected a lot from our constabulary and this year will be no different, as we build on the successes of previous years by continuing to set challenging targets. The targets are based on the priorities identified by the Authority, constabulary and partners through engagement with the communities of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Happy New Year

4 January 2012

On behalf of the Members of the Police Authority, I would like to wish you and your families a Happy New Year.

I want to place on record my appreciation for the hard work of everyone who was working over Christmas and the New Year, making sure the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight were as safe as possible.

This will be a very busy and challenging year for the Police Authority as we continue with business as usual while also continuing our preparations to ensure a smooth transition to the directly elected Police and Crime Commissioner who shall take over the governance of the Constabulary in November.

Police Integrity

15 December 2011

The HMIC report on Police Integrity was published on Tuesday; the report found the concerns of inappropriate relationships and corruption is not endemic.

The review included relations with the media, disclosure of information, hospitality, gratuities, procurement, contracts and business interests. HMIC examined the data (where available), systems to proactively seek out wrong doing, the work of governing bodies, corporate governance and oversight, training, intelligence and enforcement.

We have one of the least corrupt police services in the world, no evidence was found of systemic corruption in policing, but there were individual cases where police officers let their colleagues and the public down.

In Hampshire we have a dedicated team to investigate allegations of corruption and policies and procedures to ensure Hampshire Constabulary is highly accountable.

The review highlights the need to continually develop safeguards and the need to keep pace with new developments in technology which is why Hampshire Constabulary has developed their social media policy. We were pleased to receive informal feedback from HMIC that our policies and procedures were of a high standard. The Authority is not complacent and will continue to ensure that the Constabulary’s policies and procedures are fit for purpose.

Royal Visit

24 October 2011

After a few weeks off on leave I came back to a very special event!

To mark the final major milestone in what is one of the biggest projects we have ever undertaken HRH Princess Royal officially opened Southampton Central police station on Tuesday 18 October.

I am extremely proud of the new Southampton Police Station which represents a major investment in the city by the Police Authority. Reaching the official opening has taken much hard work, determination and negotiation to ensure taxpayers are getting the best value for money.

The station provides the biggest custody facility in the county, a modern working environment for our officers and staff, and a focal point for policing in the city. The modern, purpose-built facilities have allowed us to centralise many policing services under one roof for the first time, bringing greater operational efficiencies through departments being brought together in one location. Most importantly it provides an improved working environment for those based there, and improved accessibility to police services for the public.

I honoured in invited HRH Princess Royal to officially open the building by unveiling the plaque. It has taken over a decade from the inception of this project through to the completion and over the past few years I have seen the building grow into the striking landmark it is today. Standing at the gateway to the city the building provides a visible reminder to all residents that we are working at the heart of your community to make Southampton a safer place for everyone.

Police Reform

15 September 2011

We are coming to the end of the most important week for Police Reform and I feel it’s important to share with you the news that last night the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill completed its Parliamentary Passage and Royal Assent is expected today. This will mean Hampshire Police Authority will be abolished from November 2012 and the first election for the Police and Crime Commissioner of Hampshire will be held on 15 November 2012.

This is a very sad day for Police Authorities across England and Wales and personally I am hugely disappointed. The 17 Members of Hampshire Police Authority have worked extremely hard to ensure efficient and effective policing for the communities of Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.

However, we are not gone yet! I want to assure readers that we will continue to hold Hampshire Constabulary to account and act as your voice on policing issues. Our primary concern will always be making our communities even safer places.

PCC Elections Postponed?

7 September 2011

I wanted to update readers following the announcement of the amendments that are to be moved in the House of Commons relating to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill; the most significant being moving the proposed Police and Crime Commissioner election from May 2012 to November 2012.

Whilst I welcome the suggested delay I share our public's belief that the Police and Crime Commissioner will not be better than the current Police Authority model nor will it adequately represent the 1.9 million people of Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.

By having a stand alone election, I am concerned there will be a huge increase in election running costs at a time when Hampshire Police is facing significant cuts in funding.

I believe this is the wrong reform at anytime and although I welcome the delay, I will use this six month reprieve to continue to oppose it.

Letter to MPs and Lords on Police Reform

6 September 2011

At the end of last week I wrote to the local MPs and Lords about legislation that will change policing governance. A copy of the letter is below

'Hampshire Police Authority is writing in advance of the final stages of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.

In light of recent events including phone hacking and the riots we write to respectfully ask you to reconsider the consequences of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.

Many of the lessons to be learnt regarding police integrity, relationships with the media, effective communications with the police and the budget cuts are still to be revealed. These lessons learnt and the implications of the recent events should be fully considered prior to the enactment of the revolutionary reform to policing governance in England and Wales.

Furthermore, the public do not support the belief that Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) will be better than the current Police Authority model. A Hampshire and Isle of Wight survey indicated only 5% of the public support a PCC; if a PCC was supported by a panel, similar to the London Mayoral model support rose to 27.27%. A national poll Both nationwide polls* showed that 65% of the public would rather keep the present system, compared to 15% who would back PCCs. IPSOS MORI focus groups revealed that although there is some public appetite for a clearer focus for police accountability, they do not want power to be concentrated in the hands of one individual.

Currently, 17 Members work extremely hard, as a team covering the interests of the whole force area. Public debate and dialogue ensure that governance of policing is effective and the best outcomes for local people are achieved. One of the greatest strengths of the Police Authority model is that the balance of political knowledge (represented by the 9 locally elected councillors reflecting the political proportionality across the area) coupled with business and diverse community knowledge brought by our 8 independent members, appointed following a rigorous competency based selection process founded on the Nolan Principles.

The proposal that a Police and Crime Commissioner can adequately represent the area covered by Hampshire Constabulary (with its 1.9 Million residents, covering 1,600 Miles² from rural Hampshire to urban areas such as Southampton and the unique requirements of our county Island – the Isle of Wight), is difficult to comprehend when at a national level that area is covered by 20 Members of Parliament and at a local level by 701 councillors. Indeed, how would a Police and Crime Commissioner perhaps from Aldershot relate to Freshwater on the Isle of Wight?

Independent analysis suggests that the cost of the proposed reforms (including transition) will be a minimum of £453m (2011/12 - 2015/16); over £100m more than the cost of running police authorities during the same period. The Authority appreciates no cost can be placed upon democratic participation, but election processes are expensive and planned at a time of significant public sector spending cuts. The Constabulary and the Authority are striving to make up to £50m in savings over the next four years, whilst fully committed to protecting our frontline officers and staff, so policing is more visible and accessible to our local communities. This is the linchpin of good governance.

Yours sincerely,

Jacqui Rayment

Chair Hampshire Police Authority

*Both nationwide polls: YouGov polled 2,391 adults for Liberty, published 30.03.11:http://bit.ly/fYgR9w and Opinion Matters polled 1,508 in February for the London Evening Standard:http://bit.ly/eR8jUf.'

The contrast could not be clearer?

18 August 2011

Hello, and welcome to my first blog post!

Well, it certainly has been a challenging week for British policing. There has been rioting and incidents in London and other parts of the country, MPs have been called back to Parliament, plans for Bill Bratton (the retired American ‘supercop’) to advise the government on improving British policing, Boris Johnson saying he was opposed to the plans to cut police funding, and the Home Secretary’s speech on Police Reform in which she stated that Police Authority chairs are unaccountable, unelected and invisible!

I am very disappointed, and frankly quite offended, by the Prime Minister’s dismissal of police authorities in the Commons debate last week, and by the Home Secretary’s claims. She stated on Tuesday that following last week’s riots, the contrast ‘could not be clearer’ between the London Mayor (as the Government’s declared ‘pilot’ for Directly Elected Police and Crime Commissioners), and Police Authority Chairs in other parts of the country.

I’d like to take this opportunity to echo the comments, of the Chair of Kent Police Authority, Anne Barnes’ open letter to the PM and remind both the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary of all the hard work undertaken by police authorities during these difficult times.

‘Police Authority members from across Britain have attended Gold group planning meetings to ensure that police responses would be appropriate and proportionate, worked on Community Impact assessments with officers and community leaders, been out and about in their communities reassuring people and listening to their concerns.

They have forged bridges between individuals and the police and other services. They have hit the airwaves to spread reassurance and calm, talked to local papers, stood shoulder to shoulder with their senior officers, giving them 100% support, canvassed local views about the policing response, written to all members of their force with their thanks for all their hard work and they will deal with the aftermath of the disorder too, not least the financial implications. In other words, they have done their job very visibly and very effectively.’

Finally I’d like to reiterate my comments in my open letter of thanks to police officers and staff and say how proud the Police Authority is of everyone no matter what role they played.