The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), established in 1948[1], is the lead organisation for developing police policy in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need, for example terrorist attacks and civil emergencies, ACPO coordinates the strategic operational response and advises government. ACPO coordinates national police operations, major investigations, cross border policing and joint law emforcement task forces. ACPO designates Senior Investigative Officers for major investigations and appoints officers to head ACPO units specialising in various areas of policing and crime reduction. ACPO is now a statutory consultee.
Scotland has eight forces and they are similarly coordinated by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland.
ACPO is currently led by Chief Constable Sir Ken Jones QPM who was, until 2006, the Chief Constable of Sussex Police. He was elected to serve as President by his peers and will serve until autumn 2009 whereupon he will be replaced as President by Sir Hugh Orde.
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Status
ACPO is a private company limited by guarantee. It is not a staff association, the staff association for senior police officers being a separate body, the Chief Police Officers Staff Association (CPOSA). ACPO is funded by a Home Office grant, together with contributions from each of the 44 UK police authorities.
Purpose
ACPO's declared purpose is as follows:
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is an independent, professionally led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with Government and the Association of Police Authorities, ACPO leads and coordinates the direction and development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need ACPO - on behalf of all chief officers - coordinates the strategic policing response.[2]
Membership
ACPO is composed of the chief police officers of the 47 police forces in England & Wales and Northern Ireland, the Deputy Chief Constable and Assistant Chief Constable of 45 of those forces and the Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Deputy Assistant Commissioner and Commanders of the remaining two - the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police. Certain senior non-police staff and senior members of national police agencies and certain other specialised and non-geographical forces in the UK, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are also members. Scotland is covered by a separate organisation. As of July 2007 there are 341 members of ACPO. [3]
Activities
In 1981, following riots in twenty-seven British cities, including the 1980 St. Pauls riot and the 1981 Brixton riot, the Association of Chief Police Officers began preparation of the Public Order Manual of Tactical Operations and Related Matters. Police forces began training in its tactics late in 1983.[4]
In February 2009, the Mail on Sunday highlighted the involvement of ACPO in setting up the "Confidential Intelligence Unit" as a specialised unit to spy on on Left-wing and Right-wing political groups throughout the UK.[5] The investigation also highlighted other activities of the ACPO including selling information from the Police National Computer for £70 despite it costing them only 60p to access it, marketing "police approval" logos to firms selling anti-theft devices and operating a separate private firm offering training to speed camera operators.[6]
See also
External links
References
- ^ John Steele (20 October 2001). "Police chief 'club' may become closed shop". The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1359949/Police-chief-'club'-may-become-closed-shop.html.
- ^ http://www.acpo.police.uk/about_pages/ACPO%20SOP%20(Option%202).doc
- ^ Number of ACPO Members
- ^ Gerry Northam (August 1989). Shooting in the Dark: Riot Police in Britain. Faber and Faber. pp. 41, 46. ISBN 0571150896.
- ^ Secret police unit set up to spy on British 'domestic extremists' by Jason Lewis, published Mail On-Line, 7 February 2009, accessed 16 February 2009
- ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1145581/Body-charge-UK-policing-policy-18m-year-brand-charging-public-70-60p-criminal-records-check.html by Jason Lewis Body in charge of UK policing policy is now an £18m-a-year brand charging the public £70 for a 60p criminal records check 15th February 2009, accessed 27th April 2009
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