Theory meets reality: police boards and accountability

The issue of the lack of political scrutiny of police forces has been touched on here several times in the past, with a particular emphasis on Tayside. Of course, the theory of democratically elected councillors holding senior police officers to account via the police board machinery is unproblematic, and indeed is outlined succinctly in the Herald in relation to a call this week by Strathclyde Chief Constable Stephen House for a single Scottish police force. In response, Patrick Shearer, Chief Constable of Dumfries and Galloway and President of Acpos, is quoted as saying:

Local accountability is at the heart of Scottish policing.

However, yesterday the Scotsman reported news which perhaps better reflects the reality of the situation, in Tayside at least:

The public body responsible for monitoring a Scottish police force has been reprimanded for failing in its duty.[...]

Despite a good working relations with the police force, scrutiny of the force's performance was described as "weak" and board members did little to challenge how things were done.

Indeed, the report by the Accounts Commission says "it suspects the problem is not confined to Tayside" and it has called for "clearer guidelines covering the duties and responsibilities of police boards across Scotland".

That'll upset the tea and biscuits trolley at the Tayside Police Joint Board meetings up in Forfar!