Police Chiefs Fear Whitehall Control

The century-old tradition of independent policing in Britain is at risk of being 'corrupted' by political interference under plans to give Whitehall greater control over forces, according to one of the country's most senior police officers.

In a strongly worded attack, Colin Cramphorn, the chief constable of West Yorkshire, said that government attempts to control senior officers risked 'going too far'.

Although Home Secretary Charles Clarke's drive to reduce the 43 forces in England and Wales to a number closer to 20 has encouraged a vigorous debate, Cramphorn fears more damaging elements of the government's restructuring plans remain largely unrecognised. He said legislation before Parliament would see the new police authorities 'wholly subservient' to Clarke.

In comments that signal a change in escalating tensions between the police and the Home Office, Cramphorn said: 'The order-making powers for the secretary of state would mean he can write the rules to suit himself. These arrangements will provide ministers with the order-making powers which will allow them to dictate completely to the police authority how, what, when and where its business is conducted.'

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