The head of Kent Police’s governing body will meet the new Home Secretary tomorrow to thrash out proposals for a single directly elected chief.

Kent Police Authority chairman Ann Barnes will be speaking to Theresa May MP in her capacity as deputy chair of the Association of Police Authorities.

The body represents 43 Police Authorities in England and Wales - all of which will be scrapped under the proposal.

Kent Police Authority is made up of 17 members, including citizens and councillors. Its job is to set the force budget and call it to account.

The meeting follows last week’s national police conference where the Home Office invited police authorities to contribute to a new policing strategy.

The strategy will be published in the summer, covering a wide range of areas including accountability of police forces.

Mrs Barnes said: "Policing has undergone many changes over the years and the Association of Police Authorities believes that the current set up offers the right mix of people - elected councilors complemented by independent residents of Kent and Medway – to represent police council taxpayers.

"The Association of Police Authorities is committed to working with the new Government to ensure that there continues to be a role in the future for a wide cross section of interests.

"On a personal note, whilst I cannot claim to be neutral in the matter of a single directly elected individual, I do accept the government’s mandate and I give my absolute personal commitment to do my utmost for Kent Police Authority, and for the Association of Police Authorities, during difficult times ahead."