Challenge and change: police authority and chief officer responsibilities under the Police and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1994

The Police and Magistrates' Courts' Act (1994) is intended to give substantial new powers to local police authorities (LPAs). These bodies will be made responsible for developing local objectives and planning and monitoring police activity thereafter. Additionally it is intended that the LPA will in due course be made responsible for introducing fixed term appointments for chief officers. The FTAs, which will be effective for periods of between four and ten years, may alter the relationship between chief officer and police authority. This is because the LPA of the future is clearly expected to make a judgement about contract renewal, at least in part, upon the basis of performance and the extent to which local and national targets have been reached by the police force.