Speaking at the Association of Chief Police Officers’ (ACPO) Annual Conference in Manchester, Nick Herbert – minister for policing and criminal justice within the coalition Government – stated that swearing a public oath would send the “strongest possible signals” to local communities that the 41 newly-elected Commissioners in England and Wales will represent all sections of the public “without fear or favour”.
It would also provide, according to Herbert, a platform for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to set out publicly their commitment to tackling their new role with “integrity, impartiality and fairness”.
An oath would enable PCCs to echo the commitment police officers make to serve every member of the public impartially, while at the same time recognising the importance of the operational independence of the police service.
As far as the Government’s concerned, swearing an oath in public would also reinforce in the public mind the importance of this new office and the significance of the change it represents in giving the people a new say over how their local policing is carried out.
“Police and Crime Commissioners will be important public servants,” explained Herbert, “and it’s right that they make a formal public commitment to the communities they will serve. ‘Although Police and Crime Commissioners may stand for a political party, the public will expect them to represent all of the people withinin their area impartially, and without fear or favour.”
Herbert continued: “The swearing of an oath will be an important symbol of this impartiality, emphasising both the significance of this new role in local communities and that Commissioners are there to serve the people, not a political party or any one section of their electorate. An oath will also underline the particular importance of even-handedness in an office which holds to account the local chief constable and police force, who themselves are bound to serve impartially.”
The Government is consulting informally on the wording of the oath before introducing the necessary secondary legislation to set that wording and make its swearing compulsory.
Putting people at the heart of tackling anti-social behaviour
People affected by anti-social behaviour will have the right to force action from the police and local agencies thanks to new proposals published by the Home Office.
Home Secretary Theresa May has unveiled plans to introduce faster and more effective powers to stop the dangerous and yobbish acts of those who make victims’ lives a misery.
The existing ‘top down approach’ will be turned on its head to ensure local solutions are found to local problems, with a distinct focus on the impact of victims and neighbourhoods.
The anti-social behaviour White Paper, entitled ‘Putting Victims First: more effective responses to antisocial behaviour’, will reduce 19 complex existing powers to six simple and flexible new ones.
And, for the first time, victims who feel their problems are not being taken seriously enough will have the right to force action through a newly-introduced Community Trigger. The Community Trigger will be trialled in Manchester, Brighton and Hove and West Lindsey (in Lincolnshire) from 1 June.
Publishing the White Paper, the Home Secretary said: “Everyone has the right to feel safe in their own homes and neighbourhoods, and yet thousands of people around the country are still having their everyday lives blighted by anti-social behaviour. Many don’t even report it, convinced that it won’t be taken seriously. Sadly, all-too-often they have been right.”
Theresa May urged: ‘It’s time to put victims first. That’s what this Government will do. Our new plans aim to give victims the chance to have their problems dealt with immediately. We will slash the confusing and cumbersome legislation that leaves victims without a voice and police without the ability to really tackle the problem. Police and local agencies will now have clarity and the powers to come down hard on those who inflict anti-social behaviour on others.”
The Government will publish a draft Parliamentary Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny to ensure Parliament, victims and frontline practitioners are involved in shaping the new legislation and that the coalition delivers effective laws that last for a generation.
Response to Government from ACPO
ACPO’s lead on anti-social behaviour, deputy chief constable Simon Edens, has responded to the Government announcement on anti-social behaviour.
“ASBOs are just one measure the police service and our partners use to deal with anti-social behaviour,” he stated. “Many incidents can be successfully dealt with using informal methods, like voluntary agreements, but sometimes cases must be taken before a court which can issue an order to prevent further harm.”
Edens went on to say: “ACPO has been engaged with a cross-Government Steering Group, and has given its professional view of the anti-social behaviour landscape as a whole. As part of this, we have been clear that we support a simplification of the tools and powers available to frontline practitioners.”
In conclusion, Edens explained: “Any proposals that enable agencies, including the police, to better deal with anti-social behaviour are to be welcomed. We look forward to more details, and also the opportunity to engage in a wider debate on the tools and powers available.”
What Victim Support has to say
Responding to the White Paper, Victim Support has welcomed the Government’s commitment to ensure that victims will help to shape how the problem is tackled.
However, the charity has also expressed some serious concerns about the proposals, and has urged the Government to meet its commitment of placing victims at the heart of new laws.
Javed Khan, CEO at Victim Support, said: “We welcome steps to put victims at the heart of plans to tackle anti-social behaviour. Victim Support knows from working with one million victims a year that this so-called ‘low level crime’ blights lives and shatters communities.”
Khan continued: “However, victims deserve to be taken seriously as soon as they make a report to the police. Waiting until a similar incident has been reported three times or by five people is not good enough.”
He added: “We hope that the new Criminal Behaviour Order will deliver the rapid response for victims that’s needed, but just dishing out the orders won’t be enough. If the Government really wants to put victims first then it’s the case that tough enforcement and follow-up will be required to avoid making the CBO an empty sanction.”
In conclusion, Victim Support’s leader stated: “Furthermore, Government plans to change funding arrangements may mean that some anti-social behaviour victims get no help or support at all in the future. We urge the Government to guarantee that all victims of crime get the help and support they need to move on with their lives.”
