Parliamentary Oversight of Internal Security Forces Basic oversight features in liberal democracies: the role of Parliaments vis-à-vis internal security forces Dyfan Jones Parliamentary Development Consultant

Why Parliamentary Oversight? Civilian oversight > Democratic oversight Constitution and laws – Executive accountable to Parliament Security Sector within general policy sphere - Health, Education, Economy, Transport, etc CitizensParliamentExecutiveInternal Security Forces

Parliaments’ Duties and Roles

Effective Parliamentary Oversight Legislation - Post legislative scrutiny Policy Framework - Debate on national security policy – time for discussion Activities / Key Issues of the day Qualitative and Quantitative oversight – i.e. Statistics and performance OVERSIGHT

Oversight Mechanisms Constitution & Laws Rules of Procedure Rules Rules = what is allowed Custom = the practice Custom Debates Questions Motions Mechanisms Oversight of Ministry of Interior Oversight of ISFs Inquiries Committees

Challenges for Parliaments Technical Complicated field Complex ISF organisation structure Lack of ISF expertise in Parliaments Lack of budget expertise in Parliaments Legal / Procedural Difficulties in obtaining information Information from those Parliaments are overseeing Ability to call witnesses / evidence Secrecy Laws and Culture Political Will Party discipline Oversight perceived as criticism of popular public sector servants Lack of interest from citizens compared to other fields e.g. Health, education, jobs, etc

Developing Parliamentary trends New challenges for Parliaments include growth of private security sector Issues Growth of specialised Committees & specialised parliamentary staff Parliamentary Mechanisms Increased civil society input into policy and fiscal oversight Civil Society Interaction

UK Home Affairs Select Committee May 2010 – January 2013 ISF Related Inquiries Undertaken Lessons from the American experience of policing New Landscape of Policing Police & Crime Commissioners Policing Policing Large Scale Disorder The work of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Work of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary All Ongoing Inquiries Drugs Regulation for Private Investigators Localised Child grooming E-crime Olympics security Draft anti-social behaviour Bill The work of UK Border Agency & Border Force Independent Police Complaints Commission Leadership & Standards in the Police Service

Policing Large Scale Disorder Inquiry 49 Witnesses gave oral evidence to Committee 48 organisations and individuals gave written evidence to committee 45 page Committee Report including 6 sections to the report Government response

Who Benefits from Parliamentary Oversight of ISFs? Increased Legitimacy for PoliciesIncreased public support for security policiesRaised awareness of policiesRaised awareness of work of ISFs Increased confidence in ISFs, Executive and Parliament Parliament ISFs Executive Citizens