Police and Crime Commissioners
In November 2012 there will be significant changes in how the police are governed. This is brought about by the Police Reform & Social Responsibility Act. Police Authorities will be replaced by Police and Crime Commissioners.
On 15 November 2012 you will be invited to vote for your first Commissioner. They will represent the public in policing Cumbria until May 2016.
The new Police and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria will operate from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and will be held to account by the Police and Crime Panel for Cumbria.
What will happen as a result of the new law?
- Cumbria Police Authority will be replaced with a directly elected Police and Crime Commissioner.
- A Police and Crime Panel will be responsible for holding the Commissioner to account.
If you would like to read the full Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 it can be accessed here.
What will the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria do?
They will be responsible for:
1. Representing and engaging with the communities of Cumbria;
2. Setting priorities for Cumbria Constabulary and preparing the police and crime plan;
3. Appointing and dismissing (if necessary) the Chief Constable of Cumbria Constabulary;
4. Holding the Chief Constable of Cumbria Constabulary to account for the performance of the police force;
5. Setting the policing budget and the council tax precept (the amount of money from the council tax used to pay for police services); and
6. Publishing an annual report that tells you whether policing priorities and targets have been met.
What will the Police and Crime Panel for Cumbria do?
The panel will:
- act as a check and balance if the Commissioner calls for the resignation of the Chief Constable;
- review the draft police and crime plan submitted by the Commissioner;
- publicly scrutinise the Commissioner's annual report review and the Commissioner's actions and decisions; and
- review the Commissioner's proposed precept* levels.
(* The amount of your council tax spent on policing)
Elections
Elections for the new Commissioner will be held on 15 November 2012 and will use the supplementary vote system. This is how the Mayor London is currently elected.
Who can stand for election?
Candidates must:
- be a British, Commonwealth or EU citizen
- be 18 years of age or over
- be resident in the police force area.
Restrictions on candidacy include a conviction for an imprisonable offence, and being a serving civil servant, judge, police officer, member of police staff or member of the regular armed forces.
More information can be found in the Home Office booklet entitled "Got what it takes?" - here.
How to stand for election.
The first election is scheduled for 15 November 2012. Further details about the election process and how to stand will be posted early in the New Year.
What happens now?
The Police Authority is currently working with the Constabulary, local councils and national partners to bring about the changes required to make the transition from the Police Authority to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
To oversee the smooth implementation of these changes we have established a Transition Board. Terms of Reference for the Transition Board can be found here.