Memorandum submitted by the Association
of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Letter to the Clerk of the Committee from
the Chair, ACPO General Policing Committee
ACPO is very grateful for the opportunity to
give evidence to the Select Committee. I fear that I personally
am unable to attend on either 30 January or 6 February but I have
arranged for Paul Scott-Lee, the Chief Constable of Suffolk, to
give oral evidence if the Select Committee so wish on the morning
of 6 February.
In July 2000 the Home Office consulted ACPO
about the various proposals for extension of jurisdiction and
amendments to powers. Having consulted all Forces in England and
Wales, I have written back to the Home Office generally supporting
those proposals. (Annex A).
I had a subsequent meeting, chaired by Jim Daniel,
at the Home Office where the Ministry of Defence were represented
by their Deputy Chief Constable. I was further consulted with
the precise details of proposed legislation and have expressed
ourselves generally content with that. We have pointed out one
area where we think the legislation could be improved. (Annex
B).
The other point I would wish to make is that
I have an agreement with the Ministry of Defence Police that we
will sit down as soon as this legislation is passed to draw up
a new concordat. It will cover all these changes in their powers
which we see as general clarification and a probable improvement
in the legal position of their officers. It will also include
a revision of the position regarding armed officers because the
Police Use of Firearms Manual of Guidance has been re-written
to take account of the Human Rights Act. Finally, there is one
area of the proposed legislation which involves the extension
of their powers, I refer to the right for MDP to investigate a
crime where a member of the Armed Services is a victim. This has
caused one of my colleagues a little concern but I am reassured
by MDP that it only is intended to relate to a crime associated
with that person's role as a member of the Armed Services. That
being the case, ACPO will be content to cover those circumstances
in the new concordat or protocol.
The remaining matters under consideration seem
to us to be eminently sensible. I hope this is helpful.
26 January 2001
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