'Lifestyle' magazine for police

The Home Office wants to promote reforms to front line police officers

A tabloid-style magazine, in which the Home Office tries to explain police reforms to officers, is to be sent to every station in England and Wales.

The Sharp End, with its quizzes and cartoons, has been likened to magazines like FHM and Heat.

But some chief constables are concerned it will bypass them to get key messages directly to individual officers.

The Home Office says it is not intended to annoy bosses, but to complement the information they gave to their staff.

Crucial role

A trial copy has already been sent to several forces and the Home Office says there was generally favourable feedback.

I think there is definitely a trend towards the government trying to achieve more control over police at a local level than they have done before Chris Dixon Retired deputy chief constable

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "The government has carried out detailed research with police officers who would welcome the information.

"We have consulted ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) on this and see them as playing a crucial role in the editorial board.

"We would also like to involve the Police Federation and the Association of Police Authorities who will have a valuable contribution to make.

"We do not see this as competing with - but rather complementing - the local information they receive from their chief constables."

But some older officers were cynical about the government's motives, suspecting "politics and manipulation".

Retired deputy chief constable of Bedfordshire police Chris Dixon expressed concern over the magazine's message, saying if it was not balanced it could be seen as divisive.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: "I think there is definitely a trend towards the government trying to achieve more control over police at a local level than they have done before."

He said that despite some consultation on local level control, "there have been issues in the past where it appears, whether by intention or accident, that there has been an undermining, not just of ACPO officers but also senior management."

'Pretty suspicious'

Chairwoman of the Police Federation Jan Berry was also sceptical of the magazine.

She added: "My advice to the Home Office was that police officers are pretty discerning people.

"Whilst they do want to be informed about what is happening to the police service and the changes, they will be pretty suspicious and maybe even cynical about a government document of this type.

"So it needs to be very balanced. It needs to be accurate and it doesn't need to be an edition of Pravda."

The fact that it is a Home Office publication is only shown in small print on the back.