POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONERS
Police and Crime Commissioners
Directly Elected Police and Crime Commissioners The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 introduces directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners, (PCCs), replacing Police Authorities from November 2012. The Government is introducing this new arrangement as it believes that the public will be better served by someone who is directly elected.
On 15 November 2012, all registered voters in Gloucestershire will have the chance to go to the polls to elect the first Police and Crime Commissioner for the County. This influential figure will be responsible for overseeing the work of Gloucestershire Constabulary on behalf of local people.
The Role of Police and Crime Commissioners The Government outlines five key roles for the Police and Crime Commissioner as:
- representing all those who live and work in the communities in their force area and identifying their policing needs
- setting priorities that meet those needs by issuing a strategic Police and Crime Plan
- setting the force budget and setting the local policing precept and awarding local crime and disorder reduction grants
- holding the Chief Constable to account for achieving the priorities set for policing as efficiently and effectively as possible
- setting the force budget and setting the local policing precept
- appointing, and if necessary dismissing, the Chief Constable
For more information on the role of Police and Crime Commissioner, including information for prospective candidates, please visit the Home Office web site
Police and Crime Panels
The Commissioner will be overseen by a new Police and Crime Panel which will consist of 10 elected representatives from the 6 District Councils in Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire County Council, plus 2 non councillor Members. The Panel is intended as a check and balance on the Police and Crime Commissioner, it will not oversee Gloucestershire Constabulary.
The powers and responsibilities of the Police and Crime Panel include:
- to review and make recommendations on the draft Police and Crime Plan and publicly scrutinise the PCC’s Annual Reports
- to consider and potentially veto the PCC's appointment of the Chief Constable and other senior appointments
- to review and potentially veto the level of the PCC’s proposed precept
- to oversee complaints against the PCC
- to require the PCC to respond to any concerns they have
More information on the role of Police and Crime Panels can be found here
The Role of the Police Authority prior to Elections
The Police and Crime Commissioner will take up their new post on 22 November 2012, directly replacing Gloucestershire Police Authority, the group of 9 councillors and 8 independent members of the public that currently oversees Gloucestershire Constabulary.
Police Authority Members will continue to undertake their full range of responsibilities until midnight on 21 November 2012, including setting the policing budget for the next financial year at their meeting in February and agreeing the 2012/13 Annual Local Policing Plan in March 2012. The Authority’s Officers will be working over the coming months to ensure a smooth, efficient and effective handover.
The Home Office is producing a series of bulletins regarding the establishment of Police and Crime Commissioners. For the latest bulletins please visit the Home Office web site:
