Written question asked by Brian Jenkins (Labour) on Friday, 6 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 January 2006. It was answered by Hazel Blears (Labour) on Monday, 16 January 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Police

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has had discussions with police authorities on the suspension of further appointments to high level vacancies in police forces, subject to their possible restructuring.

Answer: I have had no specific discussions with police authorities on this matter. However, in his capacity as chair of the Senior Appointments Panel Sir Ronnie Flanagan, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary (HMIC), recently wrote to police authorities addressing the implications of HMIC's ““Closing the Gap”” report on the current structure of policing.Reflecting the views of the Senior Appointments Panel, the letter advised police authorities that, except where specific approval had already been granted, the common sense approach would be not to proceed with existing or future plans to recruit new chief constables during the restructuring process. Where police authorities wished to recruit deputy or assistant chief constables, the panel would exercise its professional judgement on a case by case basis and decide whether or not there was merit in filling the post at that point in time.A copy of this letter has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Secondary information