Clause 5
6:15 pm
Vernon Coaker (Minister of State (Policing, Crime & Security), Home Office; Gedling, Labour)
I beg to move amendment 2, in clause 5, page 6, line 3, at end insert—
‘( ) A police authority may not make an agreement which includes provision about employees who are under the direction and control of a chief officer.’.
Our clauses allow for separate collaboration agreements for police forces and authorities, an arrangement carried over from current legislation that preserves the important distinction between the functions of police forces and police authorities. The amendment further clarifies the position by ensuring that when police authorities make collaboration agreements, the agreements will not capture staff under the direction and control of a chief officer. To do otherwise would lead to an intrusion from the police authority on a chief constable’s operational independence: in other words, the independent control that he exercises over his staff. The amendment seeks to make that distinction clear.