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PCCs: Public should have power of recall, suggests May | PCCs: Public should have power of recall, suggests May |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Home Secretary Theresa May has indicated that she is in favour of a "power of recall" for Police and Crime Commissioners. | Home Secretary Theresa May has indicated that she is in favour of a "power of recall" for Police and Crime Commissioners. |
She told the Police Superintendents' Association conference that there was a "debate to be had" about recall. | She told the Police Superintendents' Association conference that there was a "debate to be had" about recall. |
Currently, voters can get rid of PCCs only every four years at elections. | Currently, voters can get rid of PCCs only every four years at elections. |
Mrs May's comments come amid calls for the South Yorkshire PCC to resign over the controversy surrounding child sexual exploitation in Rotherham. | Mrs May's comments come amid calls for the South Yorkshire PCC to resign over the controversy surrounding child sexual exploitation in Rotherham. |
Last month, Mrs May called for the PCC, Shaun Wright, to stand down. | Last month, Mrs May called for the PCC, Shaun Wright, to stand down. |
Before being elected as Commissioner, Mr Wright was Rotherham Council's cabinet member for children's services between 2005 and 2010. | Before being elected as Commissioner, Mr Wright was Rotherham Council's cabinet member for children's services between 2005 and 2010. |
An inquiry released in August revealed that at least 1,400 children had been sexually abused in the town between 1997 and 2013. | An inquiry released in August revealed that at least 1,400 children had been sexually abused in the town between 1997 and 2013. |
Although Mr Wright resigned from Labour - after the party said it would suspend him - he has continued as PCC for South Yorkshire. | Although Mr Wright resigned from Labour - after the party said it would suspend him - he has continued as PCC for South Yorkshire. |
He can only be suspended if he is charged with an offence punishable by at least two years in prison. | He can only be suspended if he is charged with an offence punishable by at least two years in prison. |
At a briefing after the PSA conference, Mrs May acknowledged that discussions over the recall of PCCs followed a debate over introducing similar powers in relation to MPs. | At a briefing after the PSA conference, Mrs May acknowledged that discussions over the recall of PCCs followed a debate over introducing similar powers in relation to MPs. |
Mrs May she said she had been an "early supporter" of the recall of MPs. | Mrs May she said she had been an "early supporter" of the recall of MPs. |
'Not the answer' | |
The Home Secretary also rejected calls for the government to merge police forces in England and Wales. | The Home Secretary also rejected calls for the government to merge police forces in England and Wales. |
On Monday, the president of the Police Superintendents' Association, Irene Curtis, said it was "increasingly obvious that we do not need 43 forces". | |
Mrs May said she would consider a "coherent and comprehensive" plan to merge forces with local support. | Mrs May said she would consider a "coherent and comprehensive" plan to merge forces with local support. |
But she told the conference that no chief constable or police and crime commissioner had come forward in the past four years with a proposal to merge. | But she told the conference that no chief constable or police and crime commissioner had come forward in the past four years with a proposal to merge. |
"I applaud the efforts of chief constables and police and crime commissioners to work together so far, and urge them to go further - both between forces and with other emergency services. | "I applaud the efforts of chief constables and police and crime commissioners to work together so far, and urge them to go further - both between forces and with other emergency services. |
"But the evidence is clear - big, top-down restructure is simply not the answer." | "But the evidence is clear - big, top-down restructure is simply not the answer." |
In June, Labour said it was "nonsense" to have 43 forces in England and Wales, calling the system the "enemy of efficiency". | In June, Labour said it was "nonsense" to have 43 forces in England and Wales, calling the system the "enemy of efficiency". |