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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

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

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Page 1: Parliamentary Oversight of Internal Security Forces Basic oversight features in liberal democracies: the role of Parliaments vis-à-vis internal security

Parliamentary Oversight of Internal Security Forces

Basic oversight features in liberal democracies: the role of Parliaments vis-

à-vis internal security forces

Dyfan JonesParliamentary Development Consultant

Page 2: Parliamentary Oversight of Internal Security Forces Basic oversight features in liberal democracies: the role of Parliaments vis-à-vis internal security

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

Citizens

Parliament

Executive

Internal Security Forces

Page 3: Parliamentary Oversight of Internal Security Forces Basic oversight features in liberal democracies: the role of Parliaments vis-à-vis internal security

Parliaments’ Duties and Roles

Legislation Budget approval

Representation

OversightPolicy, Budget, Expenditure,

Activities, Implementation of

legislation

Page 4: Parliamentary Oversight of Internal Security Forces Basic oversight features in liberal democracies: the role of Parliaments vis-à-vis internal security

Effective Parliamentary Oversight

Legislation - Post legislativ

e 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

Page 5: Parliamentary Oversight of Internal Security Forces Basic oversight features in liberal democracies: the role of Parliaments vis-à-vis internal security

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

Page 6: Parliamentary Oversight of Internal Security Forces Basic oversight features in liberal democracies: the role of Parliaments vis-à-vis internal security

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

Page 7: Parliamentary Oversight of Internal Security Forces Basic oversight features in liberal democracies: the role of Parliaments vis-à-vis internal security

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 oversightCivil Society

Interaction

Page 8: Parliamentary Oversight of Internal Security Forces Basic oversight features in liberal democracies: the role of Parliaments vis-à-vis internal security

UK Home Affairs Select Committee May 2010 – January

2013ISF 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

Page 9: Parliamentary Oversight of Internal Security Forces Basic oversight features in liberal democracies: the role of Parliaments vis-à-vis internal security

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

Page 10: Parliamentary Oversight of Internal Security Forces Basic oversight features in liberal democracies: the role of Parliaments vis-à-vis internal security

Who Benefits from Parliamentary Oversight of

ISFs?

Increased Legitimacy for Policies

Increased public support for security policies

Raised awareness of policies

Raised awareness of work of ISFs

Increased confidence in ISFs, Executive and Parliament

Parliament

ISFs Executive Citizens