Social Justice and Regeneration Committee

Restructuring of Constabulary

The Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales represents 1,557 officers of Superintendent and Chief Superintendent rank. The objectives of the Association are:- 1. To lead and develop the Police Service to improve the quality of our service delivery to local communities. 2. To influence practice, policy and decision making at Chief Officer and Government Level. 3. To provide appropriate support and advice to members to maintain and improve upon the professional status of the rank. The invitation to contribute by providing a written submission to the Social Justice and Regeneration Committee has been forwarded to me as Vice President of the Association. I have recent experience of operational policing in Wales as a Chief Superintendent, B.C.U. Commander immediately prior to taking up my full-time appointment with the Superintendents’ Association. In relation to the terms of reference for the Review I would respond as follows: The relationship between the Police and the communities they serve in Wales and matters of local identity. The move to an all Wales Strategic Force to provide a better response to Level 2 Criminality and Terrorism should not impact upon the relationship between the Police and the local communities they serve. Local policing is currently delivered through Basic Command Units with locally identified Commanders who hold Chief Superintendent rank. The Governments’ Neighbourhood Policing Agenda with the quest for greater consultation with communities and better performance in respect of contact with the general public, will continue to be a priority for our members but there is a genuine concern that in order to provide the "Protective Services" to deal with Level 2 Criminality, officers will need to be transferred from Basic Command Units to Central Squads. Her Majesty’s’ Inspectors Review of policing in England and Wales – Closing the Gap – A Review of the Fitness for purpose of the Current Structure of Policing in England and Wales clearly identify that the current configuration of Forces cannot respond to the threat of cross-force criminality. Our members are intrigued as to whether EXTRA resources will be provided to address the identified gap. Local identity is crucial in terms of the relationship between the Police and local communities. There is an argument that communities identify more easily at a local level with their police and that the FORCE Badge is of secondary importance. The impact upon any change on Membership of Community Safety Partnerships and other Partnership arrangements. The constitution of Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (more recently titled Community Safety Partnerships) should not be affected in any way. The interaction with the Local Authority and other Partnership Agencies is conducted at Basic Command Unit Level and the vast majority of Crime Reduction and Community Safety Initiatives are organised and implemented at Chief Superintendent/Local Authority Chief Executive Level. However, consideration will have to be given to those structures and committees that currently operate at a County level. The relationship between the Police and those services which fall directly within the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government. Policing in Wales is a Westminster and Home Office responsibility but liaison and joint working with other services which fall within the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government cannot and should not be adversely affected. Ian Johnston Q.P.M. Vice President Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales