Baroness Harris: More evidence needed on police commissioners
Angela Harris asks questions of the coalition’s elected police commissioner proposals during a Lords debate on the issue:
“Do we understand all the practical implications of putting one elected politician in charge of this new structure?
“Can one person in the form of a PCC really do such a big job for such a large area and truly represent, and be answerable to, all its communities in a meaningful way?
“Can a PCC really do this better than the 17-plus police authority members whom they will replace? Is this really the very best we can do? Is it in the best interests of policing for the whole country?
“If there is an unequivocal yes to these questions, I ask again: where is the evidence? Certainly, none was forthcoming at second reading. If there is doubt about the answer, should we not pause to reconsider what we are about to do?”
