Cheshire Police Authority

Police and Crime Commissioner

On 15 November 2012, elections will be held in Cheshire to elect the first Police and Crime Commissioner.

A single Police and Crime Commissioner, or PCC, will replace the
Police Authority in pcc Cheshire. This individual will be responsible for holding the Chief Constable to account on behalf of the people of Cheshire.

Responsibilities

The Police and Crime Commissioner’s overall responsibility will be to maintain an effective and efficient police service.

Other duties include:

Appoint and, if necessary, dismiss the Chief Constable;
Set policing priorities and produce an Annual Plan;
Set the annual police budget and council tax precept;
Publish an annual report and accounts;
Consult with and involve the public.

We have also prepared answers to some Frequently Asked Questions which you may find informative

The Policing Protocol Order came into force on 16 January 2012 and sets out how the new arrangements will work. It clarifies the role and responsibilities of the Home Secretary, police and crime commissioners, chief constables, police and crime panels and outlines what they are expected to do and how they should work together to fight crime and improve policing.

Why PCCs are being introduced

The Coalition Government wants to increase public accountability in the police service. The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 sets out how the Government feel this will be achieved through the introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners. Nick Herbert, Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice made a speech to the Institute for Government on 21 November 2011 which sets out their intentions.

The Home Office website provides further information for the public, partners and prospective candidates.

Police and Crime Panels

A Police and Crime Panel will be set up to scrutinise the work of the Commissioner. This will be made up of Borough Councillors and independent people from across Cheshire.

Click here for more information on Police and Crime Panels.

Transition to the new model

The Authority wishes to ensure a safe and secure transition to the Police and Crime Commissioner model. The Authority has established a Transition Board to manage this change.
The objectives are:

To provide strategic oversight of the transition process, manage the various workstreams that will be required, and provide a regular forum for discussion on the transition.
To put into place the necessary requirements to enable the transfer of all Police Authority staff and assets including all related rights and liabilities.
To satisfy the information requirements of candidates for Police & Crime Commissioner in an open and fair manner.
To consider the necessary processes to establish the Police and Crime Panel and support as appropriate the nominated Borough Council Chief Executive in establishing a Panel.

The Police Authority produces a regular newsletter on progress with the transition work which can be viewed here:

Transition Newsletter - Edition 1
Transition Newsletter - Edition 2
Transition Newsletter - Edition 3
Transition Newsletter - Edition 4
Transition Newsletter - Edition 5
Transition Newsletter - Edition 6
Transition Newsletter - Edition 7
Transition Newsletter - Edition 8

What happens in the meantime?

The Police Authority will continue to be responsible for maintaining an efficient and effective police service and holding the Chief Constable to account until 22 November 2012. This is an important time for policing with the need to make substantial savings to meet the Coalition Government’s reductions in police budgets. The Police Authority remains committed to effectively carrying out its role until November 2012 and will continue to hold the police to account to ensure that the people of Cheshire receive good quality policing services. In the meantime, the Coalition Government's timeline for introducing PCCs can be seen here.

The Authority has completed a General Equality Duty Assessment of the introduction of a PCC in Cheshire.