Policing body plans ‘watered down’

The Government has “watered down” its initial proposals for an independent Policing Authority, including the removal of specific provisions making the commissioner accountable to it, according to a legal expert.

Vicky Conway, a senior lecturer in law at the University of Kent, said she is concerned that new legislation will not be enough to end the “cycle of scandal-reform, scandal-reform” that has beset the force.

“My general concern is it’s a watered-down version of what was proposed last November,” said Dr Conway. “I still need to go through it in more detail, but I’m not convinced this is what’s going to fix things.”