Police chiefs' association accused of profiteering
By Brian Brady, Whitehall Editor
Sunday, 15 February 2009
The private organisation representing Britain's top police officers faced demands last night for reform – or even disbanding – over allegations that it was being run as a business with a multi-million-pound budget relying heavily on public funds.
Civil liberties campaigners and opposition politicians called for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to be "stopped in its tracks" amid growing concerns over its burgeoning powers.
ACPO, a private company, is paid millions of pounds a year by the taxpayer to, in effect, run the nation's police forces. It has been viewed as providing a vital public service in writing the rules on police operations, advising ministers, and campaigning on issues such as the proposed 90-day detention of terror suspects and the DNA database.
But a newspaper investigation has raised concerns over "profit-making" activities, including selling information from the police national computer for up to £70 a time – when ACPO pays just 60p for the details.
The organisation also markets "police approval" logos to firms selling anti-theft devices and runs a separate private firm offering training to speed-camera operators.
Police chiefs' association accused of profiteering - Home News, UK - The Independent
I just assumed that ACPO was a public association, and I am quite shocked that that this isn't the case.
My gut reaction is one of a conflict of interest situation could possibly arise between what is just and what is profitable.
(ACPO is a Registered Trademark of the 'Filth-U-Like' Propaganda Division of Murkybackwaters/Shady Umbrella Corp;-)
Sphere: Related Content
By Brian Brady, Whitehall Editor
Sunday, 15 February 2009
The private organisation representing Britain's top police officers faced demands last night for reform – or even disbanding – over allegations that it was being run as a business with a multi-million-pound budget relying heavily on public funds.
Civil liberties campaigners and opposition politicians called for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to be "stopped in its tracks" amid growing concerns over its burgeoning powers.
ACPO, a private company, is paid millions of pounds a year by the taxpayer to, in effect, run the nation's police forces. It has been viewed as providing a vital public service in writing the rules on police operations, advising ministers, and campaigning on issues such as the proposed 90-day detention of terror suspects and the DNA database.
But a newspaper investigation has raised concerns over "profit-making" activities, including selling information from the police national computer for up to £70 a time – when ACPO pays just 60p for the details.
The organisation also markets "police approval" logos to firms selling anti-theft devices and runs a separate private firm offering training to speed-camera operators.
Police chiefs' association accused of profiteering - Home News, UK - The Independent
I just assumed that ACPO was a public association, and I am quite shocked that that this isn't the case.
My gut reaction is one of a conflict of interest situation could possibly arise between what is just and what is profitable.
(ACPO is a Registered Trademark of the 'Filth-U-Like' Propaganda Division of Murkybackwaters/Shady Umbrella Corp;-)
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