The New Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR)
As part of the police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011,a new Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR) has been introduced. In preparation for the introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) in November 2012,the Government have introduced a ‘shadow’ policing requirement, which all police forces and Authority’s must have regard to in their planning activities.
The shadow strategic policing requirement is a statement of the collective capabilities that police forces across England and Wales will be expected to have in place in order to protect the public from cross-boundary threats such as terrorism, civil emergencies, public disorder and organised crime
The strategic policing requirement will support police and crime commissioners in effectively balancing local and national priorities, and driving improvements in their force's response to serious and cross-boundary criminality, harms and threats.
From November 2012 chief officers will be under a strong duty to comply with the strategic policing requirement unless there is a particular imperative as to why they should not (and in which case they might be expected to have to explain why they chose to do so). PCCs will have to take account of the strategic policing requirement when setting their local crime and policing plans, and they will have to hold chief officers to account for their compliance with the strategic policing requirement when exercising their functions.
No, the shadow strategic policing requirement does not cover everything the police do, from antisocial behaviour to counter-terrorism. Instead, it focuses on those areas where government has a responsibility for ensuring that sufficient capabilities are in place to respond to serious and cross-boundary criminality and in support of the work of national agencies such as, in future, the National Crime Agency. It does not cover areas where chief constables and police and crime commissioners are able to make effective local risk assessments.
From November 2012 the primary responsibility for ensuring the strategic policing requirement is delivered will lie with chief officers and PCCs. By establishing a clear articulation of the policing capabilities that are needed to tackle strategic and cross boundary threats, the Home Office hopes it will be making it much easier for PCCs to take resourcing decisions and hold their force to account on those policing functions often less visible but no less important for the protection of the public and cutting crime.
The public would exercise the primary route of accountability through the ballot box, and the Home Office expects HMIC to help them in this respect by shining a light on performance in the areas of policing that could otherwise be less visible to them. Police and crime panels will scrutinise the decisions taken by PCCs, including making reports and recommendations about their police and crime plan.
In the few instances where a PCC does not deliver that responsibility, then the Government’s view is that it is reasonable for the Home Secretary to retain a backstop power to enter into a direct agreement with that PCC over their national and international responsibilities just as she could with the Metropolitan Police Authority previously. It is worth noting that this power has never had to be used and the Home Office would not anticipate the new provisions being used as anything other than an absolute measure of last resort.
The Home Office expect to publish a statutory strategic policing requirement next summer which will reflect the learning gained from the testing and consultation of the shadow document. In the meantime Ministers expect the shadow strategic policing requirement to be of use to forces and authorities in their planning arrangements for 2012/13.
To view the Shadow Strategic Policing Requirement please follow the link below:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/police/pcc/shadow-spr?view=Binary