THE traditional rank structure of the English and Welsh police service could be torn up by the Home Secretary under the new Policing and Crime Bill, which has been laid before Parliament.<\/p>\n
The Home Office has introduced new legislation which \u2013 in its words \u2013 \u201cwill aim to finish the job of police reform\u201d. In its plans to shake up the policing rank structure, the only two ranks that cannot be touched are constable and chief constable.<\/p>\n
It will also allow chief constables to “designate volunteers powers” and\u00a0will create “Police Community Support Volunteers”.<\/p>\n
According to the department: \u201cThe purpose of [the Bill] is to enhance the democratic accountability of police forces\u2026 improve the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency services through closer collaboration and build public confidence in policing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part of the Bill takes on the work of the College of Policing Leadership Review last summer, which stated that the rank structure needs to change because it can \u201ccreate bureaucracy and inhibit aspiration\u201d.<\/p>\n
It stated: \u201cRanks and grades in policing may need to be reformed as we move towards policing based on greater levels of practitioner autonomy and expertise. While starting with police officer ranks, the same approach should be applied to police staff tiers and grades.\u201d<\/p>\n
The main provisions of the Bill will:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Place a duty on police, fire and ambulance services to collaborate and enable Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to take on responsibility for fire and rescue services, where a local case is made.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Reform the police disciplinary and complaints systems.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Give chief officers the ability to confer a wider range of powers on police staff and volunteers \u2013 while for the first time specifying a core list of powers that may only be exercised by warranted police officers \u2013 and conferring a power on the Home Secretary to specify police ranks in regulations, thereby affording the flexibility to introduce a flatter rank structure.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Reform pre-charge bail to put a stop to people remaining on bail for lengthy periods with no independent judicial scrutiny of its continued necessity.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Stop children and young people under 18 experiencing a mental health crisis being detained in police custody \u2013 and restricting the circumstances when adults can be taken to police stations \u2013 by reforming police powers under sections 135 and 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Extend the Police Federation for England and Wales\u2019s core purpose to cover the public interest and make it subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000.<\/p>\n
Home Secretary Theresa May said: \u201cThe reforms included in this Bill will continue this progress by supporting dedicated police officers in delivering the best service possible and continuing to enhance the public\u2019s confidence in their local force.”<\/p>\n
The Bill will now work its way through Parliament before it becomes law \u2013 it is likely to take some time.<\/p>\n
Neil Bowles, Chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation, said: \u201cRegarding FOI, I think it\u2019s an absolute farce. We are not a public body, no other non-public body has been included within FOI and I\u2019m sure that our members will want to fight that, and I\u2019m sure we will.”<\/p>\n
On the rank structure, he added: \u201cAs long as there\u2019s enough frontline staff and supervisors, that\u2019s the important thing. We don\u2019t want to lose that sort of structure but middle to senior management I\u2019m sure we can trim down a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n