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| Keep new police commissioners at arm's length, magistrates warned | Keep new police commissioners at arm's length, magistrates warned |
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| A senior judge has warned magistrates to maintain their distance from police and crime commissioners (PCCs), in the latest demonstration of unease about the recently elected new posts. | A senior judge has warned magistrates to maintain their distance from police and crime commissioners (PCCs), in the latest demonstration of unease about the recently elected new posts. |
| Guidance from the senior presiding judge for England and Wales, issued in response to queries from magistrates on how they should liaise with the commissioners, stipulates that working relationships should be kept at a "good arm's length". The move represents a significant distancing of relationships compared with the old system, which allowed magistrates to serve on the police authorities that were replaced by the individual commissioners. | Guidance from the senior presiding judge for England and Wales, issued in response to queries from magistrates on how they should liaise with the commissioners, stipulates that working relationships should be kept at a "good arm's length". The move represents a significant distancing of relationships compared with the old system, which allowed magistrates to serve on the police authorities that were replaced by the individual commissioners. |
| In a recent circular note from the judicial office of the senior presiding judge, magistrates are also advised not to accept invitations from police and crime commissioners to public meetings. It states: "Local arrangements will vary and individuals will need to be considered on a case-by-case basis but, given the need to uphold independence, it is unlikely to be appropriate to accept." | In a recent circular note from the judicial office of the senior presiding judge, magistrates are also advised not to accept invitations from police and crime commissioners to public meetings. It states: "Local arrangements will vary and individuals will need to be considered on a case-by-case basis but, given the need to uphold independence, it is unlikely to be appropriate to accept." |
| Anticipating the prospect of police and crime commissioners criticising sentences and other criminal justice issues, the guidance requests that magistrates contact senior judges for advice on how to deal with comments. | Anticipating the prospect of police and crime commissioners criticising sentences and other criminal justice issues, the guidance requests that magistrates contact senior judges for advice on how to deal with comments. |
| The guidance adds that, although magistrates need to avoid behaviour "which risks a suggestion of bias", it "should not preclude contact" between them and commissioners. | The guidance adds that, although magistrates need to avoid behaviour "which risks a suggestion of bias", it "should not preclude contact" between them and commissioners. |
| Sam Chapman, a Conservative councillor and former police officer who runs the website topofthecops.com, which scrutinises the actions of commissioners, said: "This appears to show senior judges are uncomfortable with the new commissioners and aware of the potential for popular opinion to inform policing decisions and their sentencing decisions to be criticised." | Sam Chapman, a Conservative councillor and former police officer who runs the website topofthecops.com, which scrutinises the actions of commissioners, said: "This appears to show senior judges are uncomfortable with the new commissioners and aware of the potential for popular opinion to inform policing decisions and their sentencing decisions to be criticised." |
| The guidance has annoyed some magistrates, who believe they are capable of evaluating how they deal with the challenges posed by the appointment of the 41 commissioners. One said: "This is an intrusion upon our independence. We don't need lecturing on how we deal with commissioners." | The guidance has annoyed some magistrates, who believe they are capable of evaluating how they deal with the challenges posed by the appointment of the 41 commissioners. One said: "This is an intrusion upon our independence. We don't need lecturing on how we deal with commissioners." |
| Lord Justice Goldring, the former senior presiding judge, who was replaced by Lord Justice Gross, tried last summer to bar magistrates from standing for election as police commissioners. | Lord Justice Goldring, the former senior presiding judge, who was replaced by Lord Justice Gross, tried last summer to bar magistrates from standing for election as police commissioners. |
| Less than two months after police and crime commissioners assumed responsibilities for powers including the ability to fire chief constables, concerns have emerged over the position. Among them are accusations that the commissioners are guilty of "cronyism", amid claims some have appointed friends as deputies. At least 16 commissioners are believed to have appointed their own friends, former colleagues and contacts as deputies, on salaries of up to £65,000. | Less than two months after police and crime commissioners assumed responsibilities for powers including the ability to fire chief constables, concerns have emerged over the position. Among them are accusations that the commissioners are guilty of "cronyism", amid claims some have appointed friends as deputies. At least 16 commissioners are believed to have appointed their own friends, former colleagues and contacts as deputies, on salaries of up to £65,000. |
| PCCs were elected by the public last November, but the role of a deputy commissioner is not subject to a democratic vote and does not have to be advertised. The latest row involves the appointment of a deputy by the Humberside police commissioner, Matthew Grove, which snubbed the recommendations of the police and crime panels which have been set up to oversee the position's role. Other figures have insisted on retaining their jobs after taking on the role of police commissioner. | PCCs were elected by the public last November, but the role of a deputy commissioner is not subject to a democratic vote and does not have to be advertised. The latest row involves the appointment of a deputy by the Humberside police commissioner, Matthew Grove, which snubbed the recommendations of the police and crime panels which have been set up to oversee the position's role. Other figures have insisted on retaining their jobs after taking on the role of police commissioner. |
| Critics say the commissioners are unrepresentative of the electorate, following turnouts in some places of less than 15%. | Critics say the commissioners are unrepresentative of the electorate, following turnouts in some places of less than 15%. |
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