Police Body Questions PM's Need For US Cop

A top UK police body has questioned David Cameron's need to draft in a former New York chief to advise him following this week's riots.

Mr Cameron has asked the ex-chief of police in New York and Los Angeles, Bill Bratton, to become his temporary crime adviser in order to stamp out further unrest.

It is a move which has angered the Met Inspectors Branch Board who insist they are better placed to offer guidance.

In a statement the body said: "The Association of Chief Police Officers and the Federation understand UK legislation and are in a much better place to advise the PM than an American.

"Why won't the Prime Minister consult us?"

It comes as the courts continue to process the 1,210 people arrested so far - with 698 now facing charges.

Also, a council tenant in South London has become the first person to face eviction over claims her son was involved in looting.

Mr Bratton is no stranger to UK policing, having teamed up with British officers at other times over the past 20 years.

In 2009, the Queen awarded him the honorary title of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

Mr Bratton, who is now a security expert, left the Los Angeles police force in 2009 after significantly lowering the crime rate.

Previously he was head of the New York Police Department where, in his first two years at the helm, reports of serious crime dropped 27%.

He said the disturbing scenes of police overwhelmed by rioting in London showed a need for more minority officers and other long-term solutions.

Reacting to the riots across England, Mr Bratton said British police needed to focus on calming racial tensions by working more with community leaders and civil rights groups.

He added: "(Mr) Cameron... thanked me for agreeing to work with the British government as they deal with the issues of gang crime, gang violence and gang intervention.

"I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with them on those issues."

"I think part of what the Government is going to do is, to take a look at what worked and what didn't work during the course of the last week.

"My assignment is to focus more on the issues of the American experience dealing with gangs and what we may be able to share with them that might help them to prevent similar activities in the future."

The 63-year-old is expected to meet Mr Cameron next month to share his expertise on tackling street crime.

Mr Cameron and the police have been on a collision course after claims officers were too soft in their initial response to this week's disorder.

The PM said officers had been overwhelmed at first and outmaneuvered by mobile gangs of rioters.

"Far too few police were deployed onto the streets. And the tactics they were using weren't working," he said.

However, a senior police chief hit out at Mr Cameron's claim that police budget cuts were "totally achievable" - saying less money meant fewer officers.

Sir Hugh Orde from the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said : "It is true there are cuts of 20% to policing over this current spending period.

"Inevitably and predictably that will lead to less police officers, let me be clear about that. It will also lead to less police staff."

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said earlier: "There is no rift between the police and the Government, we fully support the police 100%.

"They have done a brilliant job in really difficult circumstances.

"The police themselves have said they want to review what happened and look at
tactics and learn lessons."