Move to delay shake-up of police hailed

THE chair of Yorkshire’s biggest Police Authority has “cautiously welcomed” the six-month delay in the introduction of elected Police Commissioners but renewed his call for the Government to scrap the policy altogether.

Mark Burns-Williamson, chairman of West Yorkshire Police Authority, spoke out after the Government announced the first commissioners – who will replace the authorities – will now be elected next November, rather than on local election day in May.

He said the delay would avoid an “unwelcome distraction” in the run-up to the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee.

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“Police authorities and prominent figures across the police service remain convinced that the introduction of police and crime commissioners is not going to improve police accountability, will be an unnecessary use of public money during a time of 20 per cent cuts to police authority budgets and is unwanted by the general public.”

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