What is a Police Authority?
There are 43 police authorities in England and Wales, each of which is responsible for overseeing the work of its local police force. Police authorities are independent, freestanding local authorities made up of local people. Together with the Home Secretary and Chief Constables they are responsible for the management of the police service in England and Wales. This arrangement is often referred to as the tripartite relationship.
Police authorities were established under the Police Act 1996. Cumbria Police Authority has seventeen members - nine County Councillors appointed by Cumbria County Council and eight Independent Members (which includes at least one Magistrate Member) appointed following public advertisement. The Authority's overall aim is for policing in Cumbria to inspire trust and confidence so that the public feel safe, satisfied and reassured.
Our role.
The main role of the Police Authority is to secure the maintenance of an efficient and effective police force in Cumbria and to seek to improve police performance and standards. The Authority seeks to identify and then respond to the policing needs of the people of Cumbria and to determine priorities for the Chief Constable and the Constabulary to meet those needs. Essentially it is the Police Authority's job to ensure that local people have the chance to have their say in how they are policed and to hold the police to account for the policing service they deliver.
To find out more about police authorities in general in England and Wales please click on the Association Of Police Authorities logo on the bottom left of this page.