Originally Posted by MovedGoalPosts

Hmm, the idea of elected officials to oversee policing, in some form makes sense. Whether or not the tories way of doing it is right, I don't know.

At present the system requires the Police Authority to appoint a Chief Constable, and to approve that Chief Constables plans for the district (setting budgets, and what not). The problem is the Police Authority is another unelected quango, responsible only, I think to the Home Secretary. Other checks are in place by the HM Police Inspectorate, who check on standards and such like. Again the inspectorate is unelected, often made up of senior police officers.

Why shouldn't communities be able to directly influence the policing priorities for their districts. Safeguards of legal duties and responsibilities for policing as a whole will always exist, just like local authorities can be told off by District Auditors for maladministration. But within the framework of overall responsibility would an elected authority be better able to influence priorities of say anti social behavour and violent crime over say speed cameras?