The role of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) will be reviewed by the Government but will include many of the functions currently performed by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) which will be scrapped within two years, the Home Secretary announced this week.

A new National Crime Agency, as well as encompassing the work of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and UK Border Agency, is expected to take control of the databases currently managed by the NPIA, including the National DNA Database and Police National Computer.

The Policing Minister told Police Professional this week the Government will also seek to streamline the inspection regime. Policing in the 21st Century: Reconnecting police and the people, sets out a redefined and independent inspection role for Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary but fails to mention the future role of the Audit Commission. The Conservative Party has been expected to abolish it as part of a cull of non-departmental public bodies.

Nick Herbert said: “I am reviewing and discussing the whole inspection regime. Police forces find themselves subject to multiple forms of inspection; I am looking at the whole thing.”

The consultation document sets out how ACPO will in future be expected to show strong leadership in promoting and supporting the greater use of professional judgement by police officers and staff.
President of ACPO, Sir Hugh Orde, speaking to the Home Affairs Select Committee this week about the proposed changes, said he is “deeply uncomfortable” with ACPO’s current status as a limited company, proposing its Criminal Records Office be moved into a separate department, so that ACPO can become a “policy generator”

In its new role, ACPO will share evidenced-based practice and drive future leadership of service in place of the NPIA.

Sir Hugh said: “Reform must add real value to the critical service we deliver which keeps our communities safe.

“There are a number of new elements proposed which will now require careful consideration, in particular the role of the National Crime Agency, and how greater collaboration across the service can be achieved to drive the necessary savings. Today also presents an opportunity to firmly establish ACPO as a professional leadership body, with a governance and accountability structure as we have consistently requested.”

Mr Herbert defended the decision to scrap the NPIA, saying it would produce immediate cost savings, details of which will be published in a business plan in the autumn.

Mr Herbert said de-cluttering the landscape will produce far greater value for money and reduce overheads.

Responding to the decision, NPIA’s Deputy Chief Executive, Nick Gargan, said: “The NPIA has long argued that there should be fewer national agencies. We therefore see these proposals as a positive opportunity to evolve what functions the NPIA provides in a way that continues to tackle crime, increase public safety and provide value for the taxpayer.”