Government Grants Home Secretary Direct Power to Sack Chief Constables
Ministers are set to receive direct powers to dismiss failing chief constables following a significant controversy surrounding a police decision to ban Israeli football supporters from attending a match against Aston Villa.
New Legislation and Accountability Measures
Under forthcoming new laws, the Home Secretary will possess the authority to sanction the retirement, resignation, or suspension of the most senior officer in any police force if they are deemed to be "poorly performing". This legislative shift arrives in the wake of the departure of former West Midlands Police chief constable Craig Guildford, who stood down amid mounting pressure and public backlash.
The controversy stemmed from West Midlands Police's decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from a game in Birmingham. Before Mr Guildford announced his exit, opposition critics had urged Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to take action under existing legislation, specifically the Police Act 1996.
Restoration of Ministerial Powers
Section 40 of the Police Act 1996 permits home secretaries to direct local police bodies to implement certain measures against underperforming forces. However, ministerial powers to directly dismiss police chiefs were removed during the Conservative-led government in 2011. The new Government proposals aim to restore and enhance this authority, making police forces directly accountable to the Home Secretary.
According to the Home Office, the Home Secretary will have the power to order so-called "crack squads" to intervene and improve performance in struggling forces. Officers from the best-performing forces will be deployed to drive up standards in areas where crime-solving rates and police response times are found lacking.
Enhanced Performance Targets and Public Transparency
The reforms will also introduce new targets focused on 999 response times and victim satisfaction. Police forces will be graded based on their performance, and the results will be published online as part of a broader initiative to increase public accountability and transparency.
Furthermore, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary will be granted statutory powers to issue directions when forces fail to act on its recommendations. These comprehensive changes are detailed in a white paper titled 'From Local To National: A New Model For Policing', in which Ms Mahmood is expected to outline sweeping police reforms on Monday.
Background to the Controversy
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood had pledged to take action after declaring she had lost confidence in Mr Guildford. This loss of confidence was directly related to West Midlands Police's decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from Villa Park last year.
Mr Guildford had previously apologised for providing incorrect evidence to MPs regarding the handling of the ban. He admitted to denying that artificial intelligence had been used in a report that informed the decision, a claim later contradicted. A preliminary review by the policing watchdog into the force's intelligence gathering also identified "confirmation bias" as a factor influencing the move.
While Mr Guildford maintained that his belief was "honestly held" and he had no intention to "mislead" the Home Affairs Committee, he retired shortly thereafter. He attributed his decision to step down to a "political and media frenzy" surrounding the incident.
Official Statement on Police Reform
Announcing the proposed changes on Friday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated: "The police are the public, and the public are the police. It is essential that the people can determine what they expect from their forces. I will make police forces accountable to both Parliament and the public – driving up standards so they fight more crime in their communities."
This significant policy shift marks a decisive move towards centralised accountability in policing, aiming to ensure higher standards and greater public trust in law enforcement across the country.
