Sir Ronnie Flanagan publishes policing review

The chief inspector of Constabulary, Sir Ronnie Flanagan has today published an interim review of the police service. In the review, he claims that “excess bureaucracy” is taking up too much police time, and that the “risk-averse police service can at times over-record and under-deliver for fear of missing something or being vulnerable to criticism.

Sir Ronnie made several recommendations, including:

• ACPO and APA should demonstrate clear leadership and encourage officers to use their professional judgement
• Urgent consideration should be given to the roll out of virtual courts
• Chief constables should ensure that future recruitment campaigns place a proper emphasis on Neighbourhood Policing
• Chief constables should do their utmost to ensure that those in higher ranked Neighbourhood Policing roles should remain in them for at least two years, with HMIC and police authorities monitoring this
• The Home Office should continue to ring fence PCSO funding for 2008/9
• NPIA should fund research into the feasibility of a voluntary PCSO scheme

The review commended the service on the Neighbourhood Policing strategy, which he said was delivering results. However, he said that the police service needed to work closely with other local authorities to make a lasting difference.

Another focus of the report was the need for better use of technology to try to free up police officers’ time.

APA Chairman Bob Jones said, “Sir Ronnie`s Review provides a welcome opportunity to examine many key areas that are crucial to the future of policing. Whilst this is an interim report, we are encouraged by the overall direction, and look forward to the final report on these important matters.”

Mr Jones continued: “Sir Ronnie acknowledges that the police service has risen to meet the performance challenges that have been set over the past decade, and the rewards have been substantial: significant reductions in crime; increased confidence and satisfaction in policing; the roll-out of neighbourhood policing across England and Wales. But there is much more to do if we are to continue to deliver improved policing for communities. The APA looks forward to continuing to work with Sir Ronnie and his team as the Policing Review moves towards completion.”

However, the recommendations have been seen before according to Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales. Mrs Berry said:

“The Police Federation would agree with many of Sir Ronnie’s recommendations. In 2002 a predecessor of Sir Ronnie’s chaired a Bureaucracy Task Force that made many similar proposals. Regrettably, without the cash and political will needed many of these recommendations will fail to become a reality.”

“For years we have been calling for effective and integrated IT throughout the criminal justice system, including handheld devices and single data entry systems; all of which would improve communication, cut red tape and create a better working environment for police officers. If the government genuinely want to improve the situation for frontline officers then they should put their money where their mouth is.

“Sir Ronnie is right to highlight the importance of neighbourhood policing, but must be wary of focussing resources on one specific area of policing at the expense of others. Our own research has highlighted unacceptable delays in response due to a lack of resources. For policing to be effective there must be a balance between financing and resourcing across all strands of policing.

“I am disappointed that the review has thus far failed to clarify the roles and responsibilities of police officers. Instead it recommends expanding the role of PCSO’s and introducing a voluntary PCSO scheme. We already have the Special Constabulary and there has been no proper assessment of the role and function of PCSO’s to date.”