Early u-turn

The ink is barely dry on the Queen's Speech and already the UK Government are involved in an elaborate u-turn. In this morning's Guardian we are told that the government has abandoned plans to make the police more accountable to local communities through direct elections because of opposition from senior officers, Labour council chiefs and concern that the proposals would politicise forces.

These are genuine concerns though I did express the view back in November that the possible outcome of an election should not be a consideration as to whether to have it or not. My questionmark over the proposals was whether directly elected Police Authorities will make any difference to the way that our communities are policed or even to how the constabulary is run?

Clearly, on the last part of that question the Home Secretary's answer was a resounding 'Yes! but not in the way she would like it'. She is apparently (and rightly) worried that Boris Johnston's intervention in the resignation of Sir Ian Blair as Metropolitan Police Commissioner would be repeated up and down the Country. She is also sensitive to charges of politicisation following the arrest of Damian Green.

What bothers me most about the article is its description of Jacqui Smith's next steps. The paper tells us that she has asked the former home secretary David Blunkett to prepare a report to her on how to achieve a consensus within Labour on how to make the police more accountable. Whatever happened to governing in the national interest and for all the people?

If this becomes an exercise in delivering what is acceptable to the Labour Party rather than what is practical and in the best interests of the Country then Ms. Smith will have politicised and undermined one of the great offices of State. That would be unfortunate to say the least and a disaster for policing in this country.

Personally, I would rather she concentrated on getting more resources to the Police instead of indulging in sideshows such as directly elected Police Authorities and ID cards. It is a lesson that my own party should take as well. The Liberal Democrats are absolutely right to oppose ID cards for a whole host of reasons, but why are we falling for New Labour gimmicks and supporting direct elections? Police Authorities are already comprised of accountable politicians and are answerable to the Government. I hope that we will now jettison that policy as fast as the Home Secretary did.