Policing poser

While many will welcome the intervention of the House of Lords on a policy flawed from the outset, it does not augur well for the Government – and the fate of its intended public service reforms.

Ministers are still contradicting each other over tuition fees, and the NHS reforms – another ill-conceived proposal – have now stalled because of the horse trading between the Tories and the Lib Dems.

Like the NHS plans, the Government’s desire to shake up policing suffered an early blow when it failed to command the support of leading professionals.

The commissioners will have the power to set budgets and hire and fire chief constables, rasing fears that police forces will be politicised. Notable critics, including Lords Blair and Imbert who previously ran the Metropolitan Police, describe the idea as “lamentable and dangerous” while others question the cost and the timing – especially as the police will be preoccupied next year with the security operation surrounding the 2012 Olympics.

There are also concerns that commissioners with a powerful local mandate, and elected on local issues, could be resistant to budget demands for national operations – or priorities set by chief constables in response to specific intelligence.

As has been seen in the past, new governments, keen to be radical, can make rash policy decisions. Creating a strong link between the public and the police is a good idea in principle, but placing control of a vital public service in the hands of one person runs the risk of hindering – rather than helping – officers in maintaining the rule of law.