Labour's election proposals for the police service:taking the wrong road

Article considers Labour's proposal to replace PCCs with regional police boards, amalgamating police forces and reintroducing indirectly elected councillors to oversee the police. It is based on the recommendations of the Steven's Report which placed a professional policing model at the centre of reform. The failure of this model is being played out daily with reports from the inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster. It recommends instead that PCCs be retained but local Police and Crime Panels be strengthened to oversee the work of PCCs between elections.