Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Ellis, says the new National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) - where Chief Police Officers from every Force in the country come together to coordinate and improve policing – will be more open, transparent and cost effective than the private Limited Company (ACPO) that it replaced.
Eighteen months ago Police and Crime Commissioners from across the country jointly commissioned an independent review of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). The review was undertaken by General Sir Nick Parker, who until 2013 was one of the UK’s most senior Army officers. General Parker commanded the UK military operation that provided security for the 2012 London Olympics.
Mr Ellis was one of 3 PCCs nationally who oversaw the ten months of work to close down ACPO and replace it with the new body.
Matthew Ellis said: “An open and transparent police service is central to increasing public confidence at a local and a national level. The new NPCC will meet that ambition far better than ACPO ever could.
“The fact that ACPO was a limited company with significant trading interests seemed inappropriate when one of its primary responsibilities is to ensure police forces across the UK work collaboratively at times of national emergencies. The new NPCC can focus on that and other core function rather than being concerned about running a business.”
Mr Ellis has also now taken an unpaid place on the NPCC’s new Audit and Assurance Board which will provide strategic oversight and governance including approving the NPCC’s budget, spend, future strategy and monitoring the programme to ensure policing across the country can meet the changing needs of the future.
The Board meets quarterly and also includes senior police officers, Home Office representatives and independent experts.
