Police Reform
Functions of Police Authorities
Police authorities exist to hold police forces to account in their communities and to do this they have a number of powers and duties.
All authorities have a duty to ensure the maintenance of an efficient and effective police force for their areas, to this they must have regard to:
- the Home Secretary's Strategic Policing Priorities
- any objectives and performance targets determined by the authority
- any local policing plan issued by the authority.
They also have duties to:
- monitor their force's compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998
- monitor their force's compliance with any plan issued under section 6ZB
- ensure arrangements are made for their force to collaborate with other forces where it would be in the interests of the efficiency or effectiveness of the police force in its area or others
- promote equality and diversity within their police force.
Funding and Finance
Police authorities are responsible for a police force’s finance, and therefore set the budget for the force and the council tax precept.
Appointment and Removal of Chief Officers
Most of the duties and powers of police authorities are set out in the Police Act 1996, although this has been substantially amended by subsequent legislation.
The principal power of any police authority is the power to appoint or remove the Chief Officer, although they may only do this with the consent of the Home Secretary.
The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Force is a slightly different case. He or she is appointed by Her Majesty the Queen on the advice of the Home Secretary, although the Home Secretary is required to consider the views of the Metropolitan Police Authority before giving this advice.
Planning Processes
Police authorities are responsible for the planning processes of a police force.
Under the Policing Plan Regulations 2008 (new window) and the accompanying guidance (new window) the police authority must set local policing objectives for the area, based on the Home Secretary’s Strategic Policing Priorities and other influences. These priorities must then form the basis of a three year delivery plan for a police force. This plan is then updated annually.
Police authorities are then required to produce an annual report, detailing the extent to which the plan was delivered.
