Police accountability in the provinces: the changing role of the police authority

This article explores the changing role of local police authorities in England and Wales following the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994, and seeks to ascertain the status and functions now accorded to the police authority. Using a range of reports from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), it considers the implications of new managerialism, particularly in relation to police planning processes. The impact of force strategic plans in relation to police authority local policing plans is then explored.

The article also considers police authority responsibility for community consultation and comments on the continuing difficulties experienced by police authorities in developing effective channels of communication with their local communities. It then goes on to assess the impact of Best Value and decisions concerning the allocation of responsibility for this initiative with the police authority. Thereafter it looks at the effect of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. It is argued, given the clear weaknesses of police authorities as currently constituted that more effective and influential bodies might be developed around local (district) community safety committees.