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Too many police chiefs? - A review of police strength and costs in England & Wales 2010

SUMMARY OBSERVATIONS - ACPO - The Association of Police Officers



Scrutinising the continuing value of 349 ACPO officers & 3,408 SMT Ranks, demanding that forces prove beyond doubt, the need for so many Chiefs drawing such a disproportionate percentage of the total staffing cost, both in numbers engaged and the bonus payments that are shrouded in secrecy.

ACPO is already under fire for its commercial activities. Last year it was revealed that it was: • Selling information from the Police National Computer for up to £70 - even though it pays just 60p to access the details. • Marketing ‘police approval’ logos to firms selling anti-theft devices. • Operating a separate private firm offering training to speed-camera operators, which is run by a senior officer who was banned

from driving. • Employing a number of former high-ranking police officers on lucrative short-term contracts. Its staff bill is £1.4 million a year — which averages out at £66,000 for each of its 21 employees.

This leads to questions about ACPO’s central role in policing, writing rules on police operations, as well as campaigning on key issues such as the proposed 90-day detention for terror suspects and the DNA database.

ACPO president Sir Hugh Orde has pledged to reform the organisation, admitting its role as a private firm paid millions a year by the taxpayer to effectively run the nation’s police forces was uncomfortable. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, the police watchdog, went further, saying its ‘status as a private limited company cannot continue’.

The revelations are expected to increase the pressure for the reform or abolition of the organisation. ACPO’s terrorism committee budget is supposed to be separate from the organisation’s other activities. But the revelation it is spending anti-terrorist money on perks for senior officers now puts this part of its work under the spotlight.

Mr Yates, who headed the cash-for-honours inquiry in 2006, attempted to justify the need for the flats and said they would be sold should they no longer be required. ‘A massive amount of work was instigated post-9/11 to ensure that the UK had a national structure in place to tackle terrorism. This work required a vast amount of resources to ensure that a national counter-terrorism strategy was put in place. As a result, staff seconded to ACPO TAM were entitled to accommodation while working in London. This structure is now in place and as a result a review has been conducted of ACPO TAM, including the requirements for staff accommodation. All the properties for seconded staff are occupied and leases would be relinquished at the earliest opportunity if a property became vacant.’

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