Lib Dem peers to allow elected police commissioners

Liberal Democrats in House of Lords are likely to let legislation be passed after accepting safeguards Plans to bring in elected police commissioners are likely to go ahead with peers expected to announce a compromise on Tuesday lunchtime, the Guardian has learned. Lib Dem peers had been delaying the policy in the House of Lords but have now accepted safeguards added to the legislation and government sources expect the bill to be passed, paving the way for a radical overhaul of policing authorities. Concerns about the cost of the policy will however grow as the compromise will see the first elections delayed until the autumn of 2012 rather than May as had been planned. This is intended to allay fears that any setbacks in their implementation could affect the successful staging of next summer’s Olympic games. Labour had suggested that the policy was too costly at a time of police cuts, gleaning government estimates that the staging of elections would cost around £100m. Those concerns are likely to increase with the decision to hold the elections during a period when none are currently planned, which may increase the cost. However, the policy’s main obstacle had been objections by Lib Dems in the House of Lords. Lib Dem peers had been concerned that the election of a single individual to the role of police commissioner would distort the job of policing because that person would have to chase popularity in order to win and later secure re-election. They feared this would mean individuals would focus on seeking headlines and play to the most voluble parts of the electorate. In May Lib Dem peers defeated the legislation but because of a commitment in the coalition agreement, party managers have been under pressure from the Conservatives to manage this concern in the Lords. Now the compromise will see the first elections of police commissioners delayed from being held on the same day as next May’s local election and held instead in the autumn. Lib Dems feel they have also improved the legislation by ensuring that local authorities will have a part to play in the police commissioner’s role. Conservatives cherish the election policy and in the aftermath of the riots, David Cameron and the home secretary, Theresa May, increased the frequency and ardour with which they referred to the introduction of elected individuals. They suggested that elected figures would have reacted with more alacrity to public concerns over the riots when in the first hours of rioting the police appeared to stand back. Tories also believe the issue to be one of trust for the Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg, who was obliged to deliver his peers into supporting the policy as part of the coalition agreement. Liberal Democrats Police House of Lords Conservatives Labour David Cameron Theresa May Nick Clegg Metropolitan police Allegra Stratton guardian.co.uk

Posted by on September 6, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.