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Cheshire Safer Future Communities Network. Stephen Pickup. Overview Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Candidates Police and Crime Panel Transfer The Future Landscape Commissioning. Overview.
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Cheshire Safer Future Communities Network Stephen Pickup
Overview • Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) • Candidates • Police and Crime Panel • Transfer • The Future Landscape • Commissioning
Overview • Currently the Police Authority (17 people) has responsibility to hold the Chief Constable to account, set the budget & council tax precept & monitor performance • The Police Reform and Social responsibility Act 2011 abolishes the Police Authority • The Police Authority will be replaced by one directly elected individual – the Police and Crime Commissioner • Elections will take place in every Force area on 15 November • Police and Crime Commissioners will take up their role on 22 November
A Voice For The Public • Police Reform & Social Responsibility Act 2011 • “To provide stronger and more transparent accountability of the police, PCCs will be elected by the public to hold chief constables and the force to account; effectively making the police answerable to the communities they serve”. • Home Office
Role of the PCC • Maintain an efficient and effective police force • Hold the Chief Constable to account • Set the budget and council tax precept • Publish a police and crime plan • Scrutinise police performance • Publish an annual report • Appoint and remove the Chief Constable • Monitor complaints
Wider Duties • Delivery of community safety and crime reduction • Partnership working – bring together partners, hold funding, commission services • Consult with victims in setting priorities • Enhancement of the delivery of criminal justice • Victims & witness services • Probation Services – proposal for consultation
Candidates • Declarations by 19 October • “Police and Crime Commissioners will need to be outstanding leaders. They will be hugely important figures in the communities they represent. This is a real opportunity for dynamic and driven individuals to step forward to ensure that the public get the PCCs they need”. • Nick Herbert, Minister for Policing
Police & Crime Panel To hold the PCC to account (not the Chief Constable) • Warrington Borough Council • lead Chief Executive • Establish Panel by 2 July 2012 • Membership – 10 members drawn from four Borough Councils and 2 co-opted members They do not replace the Police Authority
Panel– The Role Two important powers of veto: • The appointment of a Chief Constable • Setting the precept • Review the draft Police and Crime Plan and Annual Report • Under a duty to support the P&CC critical friend role • Require the P&CC to attend a public hearing • Ask HMIC for a professional view on Chief Constable dismissal
Chief Constable • Operational voice of policing • Corporation Sole - employ police staff & officers • Still be accountable to the law for the exercise of police powers • Retain direction and control over police officers • Accountable to the PCC for the delivery of efficient and effective policing, management of resources and spending • Politically independent of the PCC • Must allow the PCC to have access to all necessary information and staff
Governance of Transition • Transition Board • Partnership Sub Group • Transition Project Team
Transfer 22 November 2012 • All buildings, land, vehicles and other assets will transfer to the PCC • Staff will transfer as part of a statutory transfer under an Act of Parliament • Stage 2 Transfer – April 2014 • Police Officers will remain officers of the Crown, working under the direction and control of the Chief Constable
COMMUNITY SAFETY PCP oversight
CRIMINAL JUSTICE • PCC and criminal justice bodies will be under a duty to co-operate to provide an efficient and effective criminal justice system • MoJ consultation on effective probation: • Effective relations between PCC and Probation required • Over time, potential to consider broader statutory role for PCC and them becoming accountable for probation services
VICTIMS & WITNESSESAND SAFEGUARDING • MoJ ‘Getting it right for victims and witnesses consultation’ sets out that: • PCC will be given a role in deciding the priorities for local victims services • Government intend that, from 2014, PCC will have primary responsibility for deciding what services are available locally for victims and witnesess • Act provides a role for PCC in holding the Chief Constable to account regard child safeguarding
Commissioning PCCs will have funds to commission services for crime and community safety Options • Use all their budgets to fund policing • Free market – Community Safety Partnerships, private, voluntary and charities • Jointly commission with others.
PCC’s Commissioning Pot • £100m funding pot for crime and disorder reduction grants expected • One consolidated pot by 2014/15 • Clarity still required on exactly what funding streams will make up this pot • Element of YOT funding transferred in 2012/13 • Community Safety and Drug Intervention Programme funding will go to existing recipients in 2012/13
What we don’t know • What manifesto have they been elected on? • What prior knowledge will the PCC have about Policing, Crime & Disorder and Criminal Justice? • What are their views / will be their priorities for Policing, Crime & Disorder & Criminal Justice? • What will be their approach to commissioning in relation to community safety work?
Summary • A major change in police governance • Directly elected PCCs will be responsible for holding the police to account • Police and Crime Panels will form a key element of checks and balances • PCC will commission community safety activity • Clarity is still required in a number of areas • Working to secure a safe and secure transition