§ Sir Ivan LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary with a statement of the duties which he expects of the inspector of constabulary.
§ Mr. HowardAs promised in the Government's White Paper on police reform, Cm 2281, I have provided the Chief Inspector of Constabulary with a clear statement of the duties and responsibilities which I expect the inspectorate should fulfil.
The statement emphasises the key role of the inspectorate as an independent watchdog monitoring police performance and ensuring that standards are maintained. I have made it clear that I will also be looking to the inspectorate to report to me on the progress being made by police authorities and forces in establishing local strategies for building effective partnerships between the police and the local community.
I have placed copies of the statement in the Library. I am also arranging for it to be circulated to all chief officers of police and to clerks of police authorities.