The Government has revealed its reform of the Home Office would see police authorities abolished, and directly-elected local police commissioners in power within England and Wales in two years time.
The department’s business plan for 2011-2015, published this week, said a Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill would be introduced in December, to pave the way for directly-elected police and crime commissioners. Preparations for the first elections would then take place before the polls in May 2012.
Home secretary, Theresa May, vowed her department would enable the police and local communities to step up the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour, while protecting people’s freedom and civil liberties.
The document also said a Freedom Bill would be introduced in February 2011, to reverse ‘state intrusion’ into people’s lives. This would outline further regulation for the use of CCTV as part of efforts to end the ‘disproportionate use of surveillance powers’.
Over the summer, the Government reviewed the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) by local authorities as part of the wider overhaul to restore the balance of civil liberties.
