Clause 1 — Police and crime commissioners
Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill
4:49 pm
Alun Michael (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour)
I must say that I disagree with my hon. Friend Chris Bryant on the usefulness of PACT meetings. The Minister referred to accountability and to the Metropolitan police. There is an issue with the governance of the Metropolitan police, because they do not and will not have a police commissioner, as that is part of the Mayor of London’s muddle of responsibilities. Of course, the Metropolitan police’s activities go far beyond London and have implications not only for other parts of England but for Scotland and Wales, yet we have a Mayor with devolved responsibility getting rid of a Metropolitan Police Commissioner. Is there not a bit of a muddle over the accountability issues right across this new pattern of policing?