ACPO President Sir Hugh Orde said:

"ACPO has been very clear that how Chief Constables are held to account is a decision for Parliament. We have also been very clear that operational independence is essential to the British policing model. Police chiefs have to be able to make important operational decisions without concerns that the decision could prove unpopular and they could lose their job as a result.

"It is important to recognise that while there have been some well publicised disagreements between Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, the evidence to date is that most relationships are constructive and professional."