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, three Magistrates and five Independent Members appointed following public advertisement.  The Authority's overall aim is for policing in Cumbria is 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 go to the Association of Police Authorities website.

To fulfil its role to secure an efficient and effective police force the Police Authority must:

• publish a three year strategic plan for policing
• set local policing priorities and challenging targets to improve police performance
• consult with local communities
• determine the annual police budget
• publish an annual plan which informs local people what they can expect from their police service in the year ahead
• report back to local communities by way of an annual report at the end of the year on the extent to which the annual plan has been met
• appoint the chief constable, deputy chief constable and assistant chief constables
• secure best value in local policing services
• monitor the process and outcomes of complaints made against police officers and police staff

Every year the Police Authority has to set a budget for Cumbria Constabulary.  This determines the amount of money available to provide a police service for Cumbria.

The budget is made up of a combination of government funding, non domestic rates and the locally raised Council Tax.  The Police Authority is what is known as a "precepting authority" which means that it tells each of the six district councils in Cumbria how much money it needs and they collect it on the Authority's behalf from individual householders.  Information on the Authority's requirements is included with the Council Tax bills issued by the district councils.  Full details can be found in the Policing Plan and Annual Report.