Police Authority members don't want public on board

Dec 12 2008 by Emma Davison, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A NEW Government bill means members of the public will be able to stand for election to West Yorkshire Police Authority, despite strong opposition from its members.

Proposals for directly-elected “crime and policing representatives” were included in the Government’s forthcoming legislative programme, announced in the Queen’s speech.

Police authorities are currently made up of local councillors and independent appointees.

They can decide how much council tax should be raised for policing, appoint and dismiss chief constables and senior police officers, set local policing priorities and oversee complaints against the police.

Under Home Secretary Jacqui Smith’s plans, a majority of West Yorkshire Police Authority’s 17 members would be directly elected.

Currently the authority is made up of eight independent members and nine local councillors, who report back to their councils.