Police and Crime Commissioners
What is the Police and Crime Commissioner?
The introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) presents a major change to the governance of policing, and they will have an important and influential role. The PCC will be responsible for representing the public within Gwent and making sure the service provided by the Police is effective and efficient and of the highest standard. The PCC will also hold the Chief Constable to account.
The PCC’s responsibilities will include setting local policing priorities, managing the Force budget, setting the police element of council tax, and they will have the ability to hire and fire the Chief Constable. They will also have wider responsibilities for the deliver of community safety and crime reduction, to ensure that collaboration agreements with other Local Policing Bodies and police forces are effective, and the improvement of the delivery of criminal justice in their area.
In addition, they will ensure that the needs of victims of crime are at the centre of their agenda. For this role, they will receive a salary of around £70,000 each year and be held to account for their performance at the ballot box every four years.
What is the Police and Crime Panel?
The PCC will be scrutinised by a Police and Crime Panel, which will be made up of Councillors and Independent Members. Where appropriate, Panels will have the duty to comment on the PCC’s appointment of the Chief Constable and other senior appointments to the PCC’s office, and to veto the PCC’s police precept level.
Panels will focus their attention on key strategic actions and decisions taken by the PCC including whether they have achieved the objectives set out in their police and crime plan and annual report, consider the applicable priorities of community safety partners and consult appropriately with the public.
The situation in Wales in regards to the panels is different from England as they will be free standing panels established by the Home Secretary. How this will work in practice is currently being explored with the relevant parties.
What will the PCCs relationship be with the Chief Constable ?
The PCC will not be able to impinge on the operational independence of the Chief Constable, i.e. direct where resources such as police officers should be deployed. The Chief Constable will retain responsibility for all operational policing.
How is Gwent Police Authority preparing for the transition to PCCs?
Gwent Police Authority has established a local transition board and will be working with Gwent Police and other partners over the coming months to develop the most suitable approach to partnership working. The Board has identified a number of key issues around which a programme of work has already been implemented. We are also involved with the wider Wales and UK Transition Boards, with the Wales Transition Board looking at Wales-specific issues across the transition programme.
