§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he has used the powers conferred on him by subsections (10) and (11) of section 106 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984;
(2) if any police authorities have failed to set up police consultative committees;
(3) how he ascertains the adequacy of arrangements for police consultative committees set up under section 106 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
§ Mr. Giles ShawSection 106 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 requires police authorities (in the Metropolitan police district and the City of London, the Commissioners respectively) to make arrangements for obtaining the views of people in their area about matters concerning the policing of the area and for obtaining their co-operation with the police in preventing crime in the area. The guidance provided to police authorities by Home Office circular 2/1985 explained that as the needs and problems of different areas vary, consultative arrangements should reflect these differences, and that a uniform pattern of methods of consultation would not be sensible. Consequently there is no requirement on police authorities to set up police consultative committees in all circumstances. Her Majesty's inspectors of constabulary take account in their inspections of police forces of the consultative arrangements in their area and report to my right hon. Friend on them on a regular basis. He has not felt it necessary to exercise the powers conferred on him by subsections (10) and (11) of section 106 of the 1984 Act.