This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25804728
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Police Federation must change, says independent review | Police Federation must change, says independent review |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Far-reaching changes should be made to the operation, governance and funding of the Police Federation of England and Wales, an independent review has found. | Far-reaching changes should be made to the operation, governance and funding of the Police Federation of England and Wales, an independent review has found. |
| Federation leaders commissioned the review after criticism in the wake of "plebgate", which saw minister Andrew Mitchell resign over a row with police. | |
| The report - to be published later - follows an interim one which said the federation had "turned in on itself" and risked becoming an "irrelevance". | The report - to be published later - follows an interim one which said the federation had "turned in on itself" and risked becoming an "irrelevance". |
| The group represents 127,000 officers. | The group represents 127,000 officers. |
| The review has examined whether the federation still acts as a credible voice for officers, genuinely serves the public good and functions as an organisational democracy. | The review has examined whether the federation still acts as a credible voice for officers, genuinely serves the public good and functions as an organisational democracy. |
| It was conducted by a panel chaired by former Home Office permanent secretary Sir David Normington. | It was conducted by a panel chaired by former Home Office permanent secretary Sir David Normington. |
| 'One voice' | 'One voice' |
| The review is understood to contain a number of radical recommendations designed to make the federation more transparent to its members, accountable to the public and effective in representing the professional interests of the police. | The review is understood to contain a number of radical recommendations designed to make the federation more transparent to its members, accountable to the public and effective in representing the professional interests of the police. |
| The panel is expected to say it believes the organisation must be re-structured so that it speaks with one voice. | The panel is expected to say it believes the organisation must be re-structured so that it speaks with one voice. |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said that in recent years it has sometimes appeared that local federation branches had more influence than the national leadership - in particular over "plebgate" and campaigns against police budget cuts. | |
| The panel will also call for reform of the federation's finances after concluding there was a lack of clarity about the way it raised money and managed its accounts. | The panel will also call for reform of the federation's finances after concluding there was a lack of clarity about the way it raised money and managed its accounts. |
| The organisation is believed to have large reserves, reported to be in the region of £50m. | The organisation is believed to have large reserves, reported to be in the region of £50m. |
| The "plebgate" row began after Mr Mitchell, then chief whip, was accused in September 2012 of calling officers "plebs" after they refused to let him ride his bicycle through Downing Street's main gates. | |
| Three weeks after the original incident, Mr Mitchell met three officers acting for the Police Federation, who afterwards claimed Mr Mitchell had not elaborated on the row and called for him to resign - which he later did. | Three weeks after the original incident, Mr Mitchell met three officers acting for the Police Federation, who afterwards claimed Mr Mitchell had not elaborated on the row and called for him to resign - which he later did. |
| But Mr Mitchell secretly recorded the meeting, which showed he had apologised for swearing and expressly denied that he had used the word "pleb". | But Mr Mitchell secretly recorded the meeting, which showed he had apologised for swearing and expressly denied that he had used the word "pleb". |
| 'Lost confidence' | 'Lost confidence' |
| Earlier this month, the police watchdog said it would investigate the three officers who met the MP amid accusations they gave a false account of the meeting. | Earlier this month, the police watchdog said it would investigate the three officers who met the MP amid accusations they gave a false account of the meeting. |
| The federation later announced it was launching judicial proceedings against the Independent Police Complaints Commission, saying its decision to reinvestigate the officers was "unlawful". | The federation later announced it was launching judicial proceedings against the Independent Police Complaints Commission, saying its decision to reinvestigate the officers was "unlawful". |
| Separately, serving officer PC Keith Wallis has admitted falsely claiming to have witnessed the row between Mr Mitchell and police. | Separately, serving officer PC Keith Wallis has admitted falsely claiming to have witnessed the row between Mr Mitchell and police. |
| A progress report by the independent review team last October said the federation had "substantially lost the confidence of its members" who were "appalled" at the damage the "plebgate" affair had caused to policing. | |
| The report also said 91% of police officers believed it was time for the organisation that represents them to change. The survey of 12,500 police officers also found 64% were dissatisfied with the federation's performance. | The report also said 91% of police officers believed it was time for the organisation that represents them to change. The survey of 12,500 police officers also found 64% were dissatisfied with the federation's performance. |