We do not need an elected leader of our constabulary – this is the EDP's message to the government as it plans to scrap police authorities in favour of new directly elected commissioners.

Police and crime commissioners (PCCs), whose responsibilities would include hiring and firing chief constables and setting the police budget will, say ministers, ensure the forces of law and order listen to the concerns of ordinary people.

The role – an integral part of reforms which comprise part of the coalition's Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill – aims to transfer power to people instead of the 'remote and invisible' police authorities which it will replace.

While the Metropolitan Police in London has a police commissioner, the role is more commonly associated with law enforcement in the United States.

In America a commissioner is head of an entire police force, responsible for policing policy and with control over the very highest echelons of the department's officers.

Unlike proposals for the UK, police commissioners in the US are not usually directly elected.

There is no single model but in big cities, the commissioner is typically a civilian selected by the mayor, making it in effect a political appointment.

Underneath the commissioner – and his deputy commissioners in some cities – may be a police chief, a uniformed officer who has risen within the ranks, who directs day-to-day activity.

Here in the UK, home secretary Theresa May said the shift in power to police and crime commissioners would make forces truly accountable to the communities they served and ensure resources were properly targeted to needs.

Prime minister David Cameron has fully endorsed the proposals, which have almost completed their way through Parliament although have not yet received royal assent, as a positive step for policing in Britain.

He said: 'By replacing invisible police authorities with directly elected police and crime commissioners, we can forge a direct link between the police and the public, ensuring the public have a voice in setting police priorities and have the power to hold police to account for keeping our streets safe and secure.'

But opponents fear police commissioners – set to replace police authorities by May next year – put too much power in the hands of one individual and potentially risk politicising the police.

People opposed to the plans in this part of the country also believe local accountability – which the commissioners are supposed to provide – already exists under the current system through the introduction of Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs).

In June Norwich City Council agreed to write to the home secretary and Norwich MPs Chloe Smith and Simon Wright, urging them to axe the proposal.

Brenda Arthur, City Council leader, said: 'It would give a great deal of power to one individual with no real checks and balances.

'One of the arguments put for it is it will bring police closer to the people but I think the Safer Neighbourhood Action Panels (SNAPS) have done exactly that and police community support officers (PCSOs) being out and visible on the streets has been really good.

'I think the current system has made people more aware of the police so in my view the successful neighbourhood action panels have done more to engage the public than any elected police commissioner will do.'

Concerns about police commissioners have also been raised at Norfolk County Council, though councillors rejected a call to abandon the idea at a meeting at County Hall earlier this month.

The move, proposed by Green group leader Phil Hardy at County Hall and fellow Green councillor Stephen Little, raised concerns about the ability of a single commissioner to represent all the county and help communities to shape policing priorities.

But the motion, which called for the authority to write to the home secretary to call for the plans to be abandoned, was rejected.

Instead it was agreed the authority's community services overview and scrutiny panel should obtain a report and make representations.

Currently 17 members of Norfolk Police Authority, which consists of county councillors and independent members, are charged with the job of agreeing annual police budgets and how much council tax local people pay towards Norfolk's policing.

The authority also sets a local policing plan and agrees strategic priorities as well as hiring and – if necessary – firing the chief constable.

Police authorities, which had independent members added following the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994, have continued to work well alongside constabularies in enabling responsibility for major decisions to be shared.

It is a system which has served Norfolk well since 1995, enabling it to earn an impressive reputation as the safest county in England and Wales according to recent Home Office figures.

Stephen Bett, chairman of the police authority which in 1995 took over the role of scrutinising police, previously overseen by the county council's police committee, said: 'I'm very, very proud and pleased of what Norfolk Constabulary and the police authority has achieved.

'They have been absolutely fantastic.

'It's very difficult to see how a single person is going to carry on these achievements.

'We've invested a lot of money in our police, supported them, and done it without a political angle. I have to say I can't quite understand how one person is going to be able to be as effective.'

Mr Bett's doubts are shared by Joanna Spicer, chairman of Suffolk Police Authority, who disagrees with the plan but fears the debate is already over.

But Mr Bett, who is likely to be one of the candidates for the role of commissioner, said everyone would have to 'make the best' of whatever the government has in store for policing.

Tomorrow – The Police Federation view

peter.walsh@archant.co.uk