APA Press Blog

This page is updated every day with news about the reform and accountability of the police. All previous monthly blogs can be found in the menu to the left.

For shorter summaries, and LIVE reporting from many conferences, events and Parliamentary debates, you may find our Twitter feed useful here.

Stories in BOLD include a comment from Police Authorities. Stories in italics were added today. (£) Indicates a story behind a paywall (e.g. The Times).

For a summary of the latest 'runners and riders' for Police and Crime Commissioner roles, please see this helpful table produced by the Police Foundation. 

February 2012

21/02/12

Labour extends deadline for prospective PCCs - Labour Uncut

Contention over Merseyside Police budget - Merseyside press

6 in PCC race in Leicestershire - Leics Press

Suffolk puts up policing precept - EDT

DCC steps up to run North Yorks force - Yorks press

WMPA slash costs with mediators - Express

20/02/12

Former Supt Searl to stand to be Gloucs' PCC - BBC

Sir Paul Stephenson's new role - Telegraph

Alun Michael faces a fight for the South Wales nomination for PCC - Wales online

Beds' tax rise 'will keep bobbies on the beat' - Luton press

Derbyshire 'could recruit 180 new police' - Derbys press

5 former Labour MInisters seeking PCCs roles named - MoS

Laws needed to control undercover policing - Liberty

Merseyside has delayed decision on Policing precept - BBC

IPCC seek new guidance on communicating with media - wired4

Federation slams PM's plan for tackling drunks - Derby press

New IPCC chair welcomed - Info4

Kent PA Chair's HuffPo blog - Huffington Post

19/02/12

Former Minister Plaskitt to seek PCC role (Warwks) - Warwks Press

Darlington Council leader seeks PCC role - Darlington Press

Blair vs Prescott on PCCs - BBC Politics Show

GMP to take on 150 new cops - Mancs press

West Mids roles our 'rate your police' website - Sutton People

Hants 'top cop 'loses fight for funding' - Hants press

18/02/12

Police tax rise for all welsh forces - BBC

New candidate for Sussex PCC - Littlehampton Press

Herbert puts case for PCCs to Norfolk - EDP

Mick Thwaites stands for PCC in Essex - Essex press

Cooper ends Labour opposition to PCCs - The Sun

New Labour hopeful for Essex PCC role - This is Essex

West Yorks Police budget cut 5.4% - BBC

South Yorks continue helicopter fight - BBC

South West One consortium reports £1.5m loss - PublicTech

17/02/12

Tories accuse Labour of accepting police cuts - Conservative Party

Yvette Cooper sets out Labour's view on PCCs - Labour Party

Fears over the politicisation of policing - Herts press

APA Chair quizzed on riots compensation - BBC Radio 4

West Mids review response to riots - Express

16/02/12

New Head for IPCC - Home Office

Police Chief on 'integrity tour' - The press

New CCTV national forum established - Trade press

Police condemn Cameron's 'drunk tanks' plan - Indy

15/02/12

'Today' explores PCCs with Prescott & Braine - Radio 4

Can politics and policing mix? - BBC Home Affairs Editor

The 'contradictions' of Prescott's position - Daily Telegraph

Former Minister Vera Baird considering PCC role - Redcar press

Notts Police settle dispute with former Deputy - BBC

PCC candidate slams precept rise as 'an insult' - LEP

Herts PA offers a reward to tackle metal theft - Herts Press

Political intrusion into police affairs - The Times (£))

'Facebook' Crime prevention scheme to be offerred free - Trade press

Minister orders review at Serious Fraud Office - FT

14/02/12

New £1m fund to help communities tackle binge drinking - CLG

Policing bill up 5% in South Wales - Wales online

Call for Unions to step up for PCC elections - Labour List

ACPO Statement on Operational Independence under PCCs - ACPO

Tony Lloyd will stand to be PCC for GMP - MEN

1,500 officers have 2nd job - Star

ACPO on new gangs strategy - info4

Former top cop stands to be Essex PCC - Southend press

13/02/12

Prescott backs PCCs' interference in policing - Express

Fears over police with second jobs - Times (£)

City Mayors and PCCs 'will transform' cities - Guardian

Police launch new counter terrorism hotline - BBC

G4S to build and run police station - FT

New role for JohnYates - Guardian

Civil Nuclear PA hits headlines - Green news

Independent fights for PCC role in Sussex - Sussex press

Hants repaid for riots role - Portsmouth news

11/02/12

Policing doesn't need a Prescott - Indy editorial

Candidates clash in Humberside - Yorks Post

10/02/12

Prescott to seek PCC role - HuffPo

Interview with Lord Prescott - Hull Press

Is there a thin blue line for PCCs? - Labour List

Manchester will go to polls for a Mayor on May 3rd - MEN

North Yorks names interim Chief Constable - Yorks press

Surrey rejects grant and increases precept - Surrey press

Home Office consults on new gun laws - SW Post

North Yorks authority criticised for insufficient audit - Police Professional 

09/02/12

'What are the police for?' (Radio documentary) - BBC Radio 4

Home Office Ministers 'vulnerable' to reshuffle - The Times (£)

MPs' debate on Police Grant - Parliament

Serious concerns over PCC elections - BBC

'90% of police cuts have hit frontline' - Telegraph

Falklands hero to contest PCC role - The Sun 

Fact check on London police numbers - CIty AM

Redknapp verdict is 'blow for City of London police' - Guardian

Frontline police 'filling back office jobs' - BBC

08/02/12

Manchester MP Tony Lloyd to run as PCC - MEN

Ret'd Deputy Chief Constable to run for PCC post in North Yorks - Yorks Press

Police urge rise in Norfolk council tax - Norfolk press

Tim Collins 'Kent PCC role is 'part time' - BBC

Policing Minister on PCC roadshow - Portsmouth press

Merseyside PCC candidate vows 'to take back streets' - Sefton press

Regional crime hubs to tackle e-crime - FT

PCCs explored - Commentator

'Exodus' of Labour big guns standing to be PCCs - Evening Standard 

PCSOs granted new powers- Staffs online

Ex Chief Constable defends decision to stand as a Labour PCC - BBC

Ken Livingstone makes police numbers pledge - Mayorwatch

Shared computer system 'will speed up fight against crime' - Luton today 

Calls for new stalking law - Daily Mail

Qatada case 'demonstrates need for control orders' - Politics.co.uk

07/02/12

Council leader seeks PCC role - Hants press

Force loses helicopter - Yorks press

Federation fears impact of cuts to online protection - BBC

6/02/12

Police pensions case has massive implications for PAs - Guardian

Former South Yorks Chief Constable wants PCC job - BBC

North Yorkshire Police set to discuss Chief Constable post - Gazette and Herald

Lawyer declares as a candidate for Gwent police commissioner - Free Press

3/02/12

We're looking for a 'new kind of candidate', say Tories - This is Bristol

HMIC Report on undercover policing - BBC

Watchdog calls for safeguards (Undercover policing) - Guardian

Crime maps extended - Wired.gov

Govt to end cash payments for scrap metal - Recycling world

TPA attack police on compensation payouts - Local press

£129m PFI for Avon & Somerset police - Local Press

Thousands wrongly labelled as criminals - Telegraph

North Wales police change rural cover - BBC Wales

New blog on PCCs - Top of the Cops

1/02/12

Police grant report England and Wales 2012/13 - WMS - info4local.gov.uk

Police plan to keep their ’copter flying - Swindon Advertiser

Nottinghamshire Police saves more than £1 million by using mobile solutions - bapcojopurnal.com