BEXLEY'S top cop says he would be uneasy about police officers getting extra powers to give a 21st-century version of a clip round the ear.

Borough commander Chief Superintendent Robin Merrett was commenting on a suggestion by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) they should get more powers to hand out "summary justice" on the streets, without referring to the courts.

ACPO says officers could have the power to:

  • Ban unruly youngsters from areas such as town centres for specified periods.
  • Ban members of gangs from associating with each other or gathering in a public place.
  • Disqualify drivers facing court for motoring offences from driving, pending their court appearances.
  • Seize the vehicles of people driving without a licence, MoT or insurance and have them crushed.

Mr Merrett says he would be unhappy about the extra powers if they came without any oversight by the courts.

He said: "They are something which could prove useful to officers. But there is a danger of police officers crossing the line between presenting evidence to court for others to decide a punishment and dispensing punishment themselves."

Mr Merrett says he would always want any on-the-spot punishments to come with judicial oversight.

He cited the example of the fixed-penalty notice, which officers can now hand out immediately for certain offences, but which can be challenged in court if the person concerned feels they have been unfairly dealt with.

Mr Merrett accepted a lot of time and money can be wasted in the bureaucracy of the present court system.

He said: "Let's speed up justice and cut out the abuse of the system but judicial oversight is important."

Mr Merrett says ACPO's ideas are worth exploring further, but added: "We need to have the checks and balances or we leave ourselves open to accusations of becoming a police state."

"There is some value in extending police powers and there is lots of scope for reform.

"ACPO's suggestions are just one of the routes which could be taken."

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