Elected police commissioners defeat

The Lords have handed a setback to coalition plans to introduce elected police commissioners.

Under ministerial proposals these figures would replace elected police authorities. They would have the power to hire and fire chief constables and would control the budgets of their police force.

Last night the Lords voted by 188 to 176 in favour of the amendment removing the proposals from the police reform and social responsibility bill completely.

The Home Office is expected to ask MPs to restore the provisions back into the bill when it returns to the Commons.