In response to ongoing controversy about politics and policing, the Association of Police Authorities’ Deputy Chair Ann Barnes today commented:

“In the light of recent events many will question the government's claims that London’s experience demonstrates how elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) will do a better job than police authorities.

Though there is no substantive evidence for the Government’s claims, it is crystal clear that PCCs will cost more – well over £100m more. Following this week's crisis, and in a context of cuts, the public want more police, not expensive elections – a point made clearly by Senior Liberal Democrat MPs, amongst others, in Parliament yesterday.

Police chiefs must be able to exercise their professional judgement and continue to be held rigorously to account by a broad base of community representatives. Brave police officers and staff deserve all the practical support, and stable leadership that we can give them so that they can get on and do the job of protecting the public.

Yet the Government’s proposals risk putting the police under partial, inappropriate political control, diverting time and resources and creating disruption at a time of unprecedented pressure and upheaval just before the Olympics– who knows what impact this ‘perfect storm’ will have on public safety.

The Police Reform Bill has yet to be approved by Parliament. Now is not the time to risk injecting the costly chaos of Commissioners into an already stretched police service. We join with the Liberal Democrats, Opposition MPs and Peers from the Cross Benches and all parties in calling on the Government to think again.”