Chartered status would professionalise service, says Lord Stevens
Some of the country’s police forces could be merged and a “chartered status” for officers should be introduced, a major review of the police has said.
The report from ex-Met Police Commissioner Lord Stevens has made a series of “radical” recommendations designed to restore trust in the service, overhaul standards and make policing in England and Wales “more professional”.
The review said that the current format of 43 constabularies was “untenable” and advocated a restructure, which included scrapping the new Police and Crime Commissioners.
The report also suggested that the Inspectorate of Constabulary and Independent Police Complaints Commission be replaced, and urged a renewed focus on the “bedrock” of neighbourhood policing.
Lord Stevens was commissioned in 2011 by Labour to conduct the review, and although the current government has said that it will consider the recommendations, it is not obliged to implement any of the suggestions.
Outlining the “chartered status” concept to the BBC, Lord Stevens said: “We would be talking about dealing with the police in a way similar to accountants, lawyers and nurses… so they get a chartered status. It is about recognising the judgment and knowledge police officers have in a way that perhaps has not been done before.
“It is all about raising the professionalism of the police, and vocational training being recognised in the police force and outside,” he added.
Asked whether such a status should afford police officers the right to strike, Stevens replied: “No, I don’t think there should be a right to strike for the police service. It is a public service which is essential, it is the agency of the first and last resort. We cannot do without the police so there should not be the right to strike.”
In terms of a police service restructure, the review suggested three possible alternatives – locally negotiated mergers and collaboration agreements, 10 regional police forces, or a national service.
The overall structure of the police service was last examined by a royal commission in 1962.
Under the overarching plans in the Stevens review, abolishing the Police and Crime Commissioner roles in 2016 would see more power given to local councillors and local authorities.
The Police Federation expressed concern about some elements of the report – particularly the chartered status proposal.
“If you’re accountable to a body rather than the law, what’s to stop police officers out there saying, actually I need to make this arrest because I need to prove to the chartered body that I'm doing my job properly,” said Steve White, vice-chairman of the Police Federation.