Association of Chief Police Officers

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), established in 1948 [cite news
url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1359949/Police-chief-'club'-may-become-closed-shop.html
title=Police chief 'club' may become closed shop
author=John Steele
date=20th October 2001
work=The Telegraph] , is the lead organisation for developing police policy in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (ACPOS fulfills the same role in Scotland). In times of national need, for example terrorist attacks and civil emergencies, ACPO coordinate the strategic operational response and advises government. ACPO coordinates national police operations, major investigations, cross border policing and joint law emforcement task forces. ACPO designates Senior Investigative Officers for major investigations and appoints officers to head ACPO units specialising in various areas of policing and crime reduction. ACPO is now a statutory consultee.

ACPO is not a staff association, the staff association for senior police officers being the Chief Police Officers Staff Association (CPOSA), a separate body. ACPO is currently led by Chief Constable Ken Jones QPM who was, until 2006, the chief constable of Sussex Police. He was elected to serve as President by his peers and will serve until 2009. ACPO's declared purpose:

:"The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)is an independent, professionally led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with Government and the Association of Police Authorities, ACPO leads and coordinates the direction and development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need ACPO - on behalf of all chief officers - coordinates the strategic policing response."

Membership

ACPO is composed of the chief police officers of the 47 police forces in England & Wales and Northern Ireland, the Deputy Chief Constable and Assistant Chief Constable of 45 of those forces and the Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Deputy Assistant Commissioner and Commanders of the remaining two - the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police. Certain senior non-police staff and senior members of national police agencies and certain other specialised and non-geographical forces in the UK, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are also members. Scotland is covered by a separate organisation. As of July 2007 there are 341 members of ACPO. [ [http://www.acpo.police.uk/pressrelease.asp?PR_GUID={C0BE30C8-3041-43DB-96A9-F13BA68B7376} Number of ACPO Members] ] ACPO is based at 10 Victoria Street, London.

Scotland has eight forces and they are similarly coordinated by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland.

ACPO is funded by a Home Office grant, together with contributions from each of the 43 UK police Authorities. However its real work is undertaken by the many efforts of chief officers across the UK who work toward collective aims whilst discharging their day jobs in various forces.

ee also

*
* National Counter Terrorism Security Office
* Park Mark

External links

* [http://www.acpo.police.uk ACPO website]

References