§ Baroness Cohen of Pimlicoasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether improvements in rural policing will result from the £15 million announced on 15 June (WA 211). [HL4502]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton)Chief officers will target the money as they see fit, keeping their local communities informed of where improvements can be expected.
Guidance to be issued under the Local Government Act 1999 will require those police authorities which were given a share of the money to provide a clear account in their Best Value Performance Plans. For the previous year they will set out: what improvement they sought with the money, which Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs) were used to measure their performance, and how they performed. For the forthcoming year, they will detail: what improvement they seek and which BVPIs will be used to measure that. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary will inspect forces on the basis of that statement.