Police chiefs may halt reforms

Chief superintendents are threatening to withdraw support for David Blunkett's proposed police reforms if hit squads are sent into boroughs which are failing to tackle crime.

The officers in charge of frontline policing in London's boroughs are worried their "operational independence" will be jeopardised if outside managers are brought in.

The threat has opened a second front in the police's conflict with Mr Blunkett. Sir David Phillips, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers which represents chief constables, has already voiced "concerns" over the proposals and is seeking talks with Mr Blunkett.

In an interview with the Evening Standard last week Mr Blunkett delivered an ultimatum to Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir John Stevens: sort out violent crime in six months or face takeover.

One chief superintendent said today: "I feel very uncomfortable about the whole issue and there is a feeling the Home Secretary will lose support from senior officers. Many officers feel they will be unjustly criticised and could even lose their jobs."

President of the Superintendents Association Kevin Morris added: "We need to know exactly how it will it be decided which areas are failing and which are successful and who will be in the hit squads."

Mr Blunkett has told chief constables that rising inner city crime rates are "unacceptable" and that targets must be set to bring down crime levels. He wants a curb on the visible signs of violence by the summer, after latest figures showed a huge rise in street robberies. The Government's policing white paper includes powers for the Home Secretary to "get rid" of failing chief constables. The Home Office said Mr Blunkett's remarks had not been intended as an attack on Sir John Stevens.