PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
POLICE FORCES (11 January 1993)

That this House reminds the Home Secretary that Britain is in urgent need of a major offensive against crime and that this requires mutual confidence and close co-operation between the police and the community; shares the fears expressed by the Association of Chief Police Officers that the Home Secretary wants to establish an over-centralised police service; believes that moves to undermine either local organisation of the police or local accountability of the police would fail to command the support of the British people; warns the Home Secretary that any attempt to replace police authorities with nominated boards of his own choosing would do terrible damage to accountability and public confidence; calls on the Government to accept that any changes in police arrangements should involve the widest and most open public debate; and is adamant that the quality of service and public confidence should take priority over party dogma in deciding future policy.

Sponsored by:
Alun Michael (Labour)