Association of Police Authorities
From SR
Contents |
History and Roles
The Association of Police Authorities (APA) was set up on 1st April 1997 to represent police authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, both on the national stage and locally, including the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the British Transport Police Authority. It influences policy on policing and it supports local police authorities in their important role. Police authorities are local bodies whose job is to hold the police to account on behalf of local communities.
The APA has two main roles:
- To act as the national voice of all police authorities; and
- To help police authorities in doing their job locally.
Aims:
- To influence the national policing agenda on behalf of police authorities and local communities
- To promote awareness of policing needs and the role and achievements of police authorities
- To support police authorities in securing efficient and effective policing services across the country
- To help police authorities improve how they do their job
- To uphold and champion the principles of local accountability and policing by consent
Components
- APA Plenary is made up of members drawn from 47 member police authorities, including the 43 geographical police authorities and members or associate members representing centralised services, such as the British Transport Police Authority. The Plenary is the main decision making body of the APA on major issues.
- APA Executive leads on strategic decisions about APA business, and represents the APA in national negotiations. The members of the Executive are local police authority members who have been elected to serve by APA Plenary members.
- APA Secretariat is the central servicing and co-ordinating team for the Association of Police Authorities. It undertakes all the day to day business of the Association in supporting local police authorities and representing their views at a national level.
Committees
The APA has 6 Policy Groups:
- Neighbourhood Policing Policy Group
- Race and Diversoty Policy Gorup
- Financial Resources Policy Group
- Science and Technology Policy Group
- Performance Management Policy Group
- Human Resources Policy Group
Structure
The APA works closely with a wide range of partner organisations including the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, the Audit Commission and the Local Government Association. APA also have constructive relationships with the Police Staff Associations and Unions and with Support Networks such as the national Black Police Association, British Association of Women in Policing and the Gay Police Association.
