What is a Police Authority?

The Police Authority is a group of 17 local people, made up of nine councillors and eight independent members, whose main duty is to maintain an efficient and effective police service in Gloucestershire.

The Authority's role is quite distinct from that of the Constabulary. The Chief Constable is in control of actual day-to-day policing of the area, the Authority is responsible for:-

• Approving the Local Policing Plan;
• Agreeing the overall budget;
• Publishing an Annual Report showing the extent to which the objectives in the previous year's plans were achieved;
• Seeking the views of local people about the policing of their area via Police and Community Consultative Meetings;
• Keeping itself informed about the number and nature of complaints against individual police officers;
• Appointing the Chief Constable, Deputy Chief Constable and Assistant Chief Constable;
• Operating an Independent Custody Visiting Scheme.

The Authority meets in public four times a year at meetings held throughout Gloucestershire. Authority members are keen to encourage as many people as possible to attend its meetings. You can e-mail the authority here Who is your Police Authority Member? The membership of the Authority consists of: Nine Councillors Eight Independent members Independent Members on Standards Committee

Each member takes responsibility for a Police and Community Consultative Meeting, (PCCM), in a particular Police Inspector Neighbourhood Areas, (INAs),  To assist with identifying which INA your local PCCM meeting falls within, please click here.

Website created by
David Gerard 2006