Police chiefs must change

By William Green on Sep 21, 09 04:34 PM

EXCLUSIVE

THE new head of Britain's most powerful policing body has admitted change is needed amid claims it is being a run as a multi-million pound business.

Former Northern Ireland chief constable Sir Hugh Orde made the admission to me having just become president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

It oversees everything from anti-terrorism policy to speed cameras and gets taxpayers' money. But it faces calls to be disbanded, following a Mail on Sunday probe.

"It is a small office in the centre of London trying to pull together what in essence are a band of volunteers," said the Sir Hugh, the former Northern Ireland Chief Constable.

He said they faced a considerable workload and has raised concerns about ACPO's current set-up with the Home Secretary Alan Johnson and his Tory Shadow Chris Grayling.

"If you want an effective ACPO that is going to be a voice for the service then we have got to a fund it in a way that is A transparent and B understood.

"I did not join policing to run a public limited company. It is a force of circumstances, but someone has got to run the business.

"We have got to have a system of transparency because we handle public money. That's the only reason we are a limited company.

"For that reason, if someone came up with a better idea I am absolutely open for it," said Sir Hugh.

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