Fears Government plans could let EXTREMISTS seize control of local police authorities

Control of police authorities - the local bodies which oversee each force - is to be handed to directly-elected members.

They will be able to hire and fire chief constables, dictate priorities and control parts of their funding.

Most Government targets will be dropped completely under reforms unveiled by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.

Senior police figures warned yesterday there was a 'very real danger' that extremists - such as far-right activists or hardline Islamist groups - could whip up local opinion and win seats. This could raise community tensions and create massive problems for chief constables.

But ministers insisted that greater local control would return power to local communities. Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said: 'Democracy can be a risky business, I fully accept that, but we think it's worth the risk.'

The wide-ranging reforms, set out in a Green Paper, would sweep away the system of Whitehall targets, which is widely blamed for distorting policing priorities, leaving officers chasing petty offences to fill quotes. Only one - a measure of local public confidence - would remain.

After years of promises to tackle red tape, the paper also pledges to scrap forms which officers must fill in when they stop and question individuals on the street.

While police leaders broadly welcomed the plans, there was immediate criticism over the potential dangers of extremist groups gaining sway over local policing.

Under the current system the Police Authorities which oversee each of the 43 police forces are typically made up of local councillors and with independent members appointed by local panels.

The new system will see most members elected directly, possibly at the same time as council or Parliamentary elections.

There will also be directly-elected chairmen of the 370 local policing boards - known as Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships and each covering a town or district.

Chief constables will keep control of day-to- day operations, but with the Home Office relinquishing much of its central control, the local bodies will have far greater power to set policing priorities, as well as hiring and fire chief constables.

There are concerns, however, that low voter turnout could make it relatively easy for extremist groups or single-issue campaigners to hijack elections. continues here

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