May in the firing line on radical policing overhaul

The Government confirmed it would press ahead with its proposal to shift power away from Whitehall by introducing locally-elected police and crime commissioners to hold police forces to account.

But police authorities, which will be scrapped under the shake-up, argued the money would be better spent on keeping bobbies on the beat as chief constables prepare for funding cuts and the challenge of keeping Britain safe during the 2012 Olympics.

Details of the proposals are included in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill, launched yesterday by Ms May, which also includes a plan to tackle alcohol-related crime by giving councils the power to impose an annual levy on large nightclubs that stay open past midnight.

The 41 new commissioner roles, estimated to cost 5m in total, will each attract pay and benefits of about 122,000, according to an impact statement released by the Home Office.

Elections, to be held every four years from May 2012, will cost 50m, but Ms May insisted the new structure will "cost no more than police authorities" and will "give people value for money".

Ms May added the Home Secretary will have no powers to sack a commissioner or a chief constable, but can intervene if they prepare to set a budget that is "less than necessary to maintain appropriate policing in the area".

"I think this is a very important step which is going to ensure that policing responds to local needs," she said.

"I think that direct accountability for a police and crime commissioner will be a very important step-change."

Commissioners will be able to serve no more than two four-year terms, and serving police officers, staff at the Serious Organised Crime Agency, the Independent Police Complaints Commission, the National Policing Improvement Agency and councils - excluding teachers - will all be banned from standing.

Those elected will be suspended if charged with any offence carrying a maximum sentence of two years or more and candidates would be disqualified from standing if they have a conviction that saw them sentenced to three months or longer.

Shadow Home Secretary Ed Balls said: "Even the Government's own consultation confirms the very real fear that plans for elected police chiefs will see money spent on bringing politicians into running the police instead of on the front line.

"People will be rightly angry if the Government can find the money for this at a time when the police are facing 20 per cent cuts that will mean thousands fewer police officers."

West Yorkshire Police Authority chairman Mark Burns-Williamson said the Government was "rushing" the proposals through "regardless of anyone's views".

"With the Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, 2012 will be a busy year," he said.

"It's not the best one for the police to face their biggest constitutional upheaval in a generation, at the same time as the biggest policing operation ever conducted and with fewer resources than they've had for years."

The chairman of the Association of Police Authorities, Rob Garnham, said: "At a time of budget cuts and public concern, this Bill is the wrong response to people's priorities."

Rob Preece Crime Correspondent

theresa may: ‘Commissioners will be value for money.'