John Prescott has backtracked on the remit of elected police commissioners, saying that commissioners "must not fetter" the operational independence of the police.
Speaking to the Today programme, Lord Prescott hailed the coalition's "radical" plans for the police. He insisted that clear rules were in place to ensure the chief constable can get on with the job. He said he would respect the police's operational independence when he drew up the five-year police plan with the chief constable:
"The roles are clearly defined in the protocol for the police to get on with the operational job. In developing the community plan, both the crime commissioner and the chief constable work out the plan for the security of the community. That is what is in the protocol. Once the plan is decided and the resources allocated, the chief constable gets on with the job."
Prescott recently announced his intention to stand for Police and Crime Commissioner in Humberside. He told the Independent: "The police always argue that [many things they do] are a matter of operations and politicians should not be involved. Well, I'm afraid I have a big argument with that."