Berty -
. . . to note your 'responsibility to the taxpayer' arguement because it could be argued that SY are failing in their duty to the (national) taxpayer
but the Authority have to compromise between cost, & service to their public. In this case, they obviously felt that the cost/benefit of NPAS was out of balance with their remit to represent
their people and
their Police Force.
. . . any police authority that didn't join ,would either be mandated to join by the new police commisioner when appointed to replace the local authority members (suggesting they lose all decision making powers,so why bother to have them?), or if that doesnt work he will ask the Home Secretary to intervene.
otherwise called political bullying, IMO - not "localism", as has been so regularly trumpeted.
(See previous comments re Comissioners !) 