Lancashire Police Authority has renewed its attempts to persuade the Government to rethink plans to radically reform policing.

The Authority has serious reservations that a single commissioner could undertake the full extent of functions required of that position and feel the Bill doesn't take into account the suggestions put forward for an alternative system whereby a commissioner had the support of a number of deputies to fulfil various local responsibilities and address local democratic accountability.

We believe Lancashire Police Authority's current role has similarities to the board of a large company and suggest that a structure whereby a Commissioner is supported by a mixture of executive and non-executive 'directors' would be more favourable.

Lancashire prides itself on its effective scrutiny process which has delivered some of the best performance results in the country. Currently 17 members, supported by a small number of staff, in the county are involved in more than 40 organisational reviews which aim to realign resources to improve service delivery and value for money. Under the current proposals, we believe it would be impossible for a single Commissioner to subject the force to this level of appraisal.

So what's your view?
We accept the Government recognises that Commissioners should come from a wide variety of backgrounds but we would question whether it is possible for one individual to truly represent the views of a county as diverse as Lancashire.

Can a single PCC do the job?
Is there a possibility this model could politicise local policing, increase bureaucracy and introduce conflict or is this the right approach for Lancashire?