Police and Crime Commissioners Session 1 Checks and balances [Wales]

1. Police and Crime Commissioners Session 1 Checks and balances[Wales]

2. This session will look at:

3. Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 shifts power away from Whitehall bureaucrats and, through Police and Crime Commissioners, into the hands of the public. Supported by Removal of targets Crime maps Beat meetings 101 Community Engagement

4. Police and Crime Commissioners Will have responsibility for: • Appointing the Chief Constable (CC) and holding them to account for the running of their force • Setting out a 5 year Police and Crime Plan (in consultation with the CC) determining local policing priorities. • Setting the annual local precept and annual force budget • Making community safety grants to a range of organisations The first PCC elections will take place on 15th November 2012 and they will take office on 22nd November 2012.

5. Police and Crime Commissioner Role

6. Police and Crime Panels • Will be established in each force area to provide regular, public scrutiny of the PCC. • Will be locally determined. • Under a duty to support, as well as challenge, the PCC. • They do not replace the police authority. These will cease to exist once PCCs are elected. • They are not a super-partnership. Although strong local partnership working will be vital.

7. Key Role and Powers of Police and Crime Panels Role Enabling Powers Powers of veto Reviewing the draft Police and Crime Plan Can require the PCC to attend a public hearing Appointment of Chief Constable Can invite the CC to attend with the PCC (cannot require) Setting of the precept Reviewing the PCCs Annual Report Must hold confirmation hearings for CEO, CFO and Deputy Can ask HMIC for a professional view on CC dismissals Have access to papers (except those that are operationally sensitive) Overseeing all complaints against the PCC, informally resolving non-criminal

8. Complaints against the PCC NOTE: Initial handling can be delegated to PCC monitoring officer All complaints received by the PCP Criminal? YES NO Referred to IPCC PCP responsible for informal resolution

9. Police and Crime Panels Composition • Welsh panels will be freestanding bodies, established by Home Secretary, but we want to support Welsh local authorities to take the lead by: • nominating councillors for appointment to the panel • agreeing a host authority for each force area • The Panel will include at least one representative from each local authority in the force area. • Where there is a directly elected mayor they will have the option of sitting on the panel. • Minimum of 10 Councillors and 2 independents. • Option to co-opt further members, on approval of Home Secretary, up to a maximum panel size of 20. • Balanced, as far as is practicable, to represent all parts and the political make up of the police force area. • Members must have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience.

10. Balanced Appointment Objective • Local Authorities, the Secretary of State and Panels themselves are under a duty to secure a Panel whose councillor members: • represent all parts of the police area • represent the political make-up of the area • All appointments should secure a Panel with the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to discharge its functions ‘as far as is practicable’

11. Police and Crime Panel Funding Panels will be Home Office funded, but locally supported £920 is available per panel member for expenses. The Home Office will not be funding allowances. Translation costs are currently being assessed.

12. PCP Regulations While local determination is key, secondary legislation and regulations will be laid in the coming months, covering: • Regulations for the powers of veto (precept and CC appointments) • Home Secretary powers to form a panel where local authorities have not been able to • Practical regulations about nominations, appointments, notifications Guidance explaining the legislation will be published in the Spring .

13. Process The Home Secretary is legislatively responsible for establishing PCPs in Wales.

14. How ready are local areas? Lessons learnt: Deep Dive Autumn 2011 • Partnership the need for the right people to engage at the right level early, in order to ensure local strategic discussion and alignment with PCC • Scrutiny some areas are placing a lot of emphasis on PCP, but Ministers are clear that this is intended as light-touch scrutiny body only • Simplification PCCs provide an opportunity to consider the current partnership landscape and what might be done locally to simplify this. • Localism fit between national and local services presents challenges. • Information We are providing appropriate advice and guidance on the framework but Ministers want to maximise local flexibility • Clarity HO messaging coordinated through PCC bulletin, website and inbox - pccpartnersenquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

15. Further Information PCC web page: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/police/police-crime-commissioners/ Enquiries: PCCPartnersEnquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk