Mayors to replace police authorities

Home secretary Jacqui Smith will today outline a radical new plan to shift the control and monitoring of police forces from existing 'police authorities' to the country's directly-elected mayors. In areas without an elected mayor - there are only 12 elected mayors in England, including Boris Johnson in London - a special directly-elected sheriff-like position will be created. Ministers believe direct elections will provide "a clear and powerful public voice" in police decision-making.

The move is a departure for Labour policy - in 2002 David Blunkett rejected Conservative proposals for directly-elected sheriffs, warning that giving one person "overwhelming influence" could create problems, and that the job might attract racists and rabblerousers.