Police & Crime Panel
With the introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners Police and Crime Panels have been set up to provide checks and balances in relation to the performance of the Police and Crime Commissioner. The Panel does not scrutinise the Chief Constable – it scrutinises the Commissioner’s exercise of their statutory functions. While the Panel is there to challenge the Commissioner, it must also exercise its functions with a view to supporting the effective exercise of the Commissioner’s functions.
The Chief Constable retains responsibility for operational matters. If the Panel seek to scrutinise the Commissioner on an operational matter, the Chief Constable may be invited to attend alongside the Commissioner to offer factual accounts and clarity (if needed) of the Chief Constable’s actions and decisions. The accountability of the Chief Constable remains firmly to the Commissioner and not to the Panel.
The Police and Crime Panel will undertake a number of functions including:
- Contributing to the development of the Police and Crime Plan
- Reviewing the Police and Crime Commissioner’s annual report
- Reviewing the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposed senior appointments (including Chief Constable, Chief Executive, Chief finance Officer and Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner) with a power of veto over the appointment of Chief Constable
- Reviewing the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposed precept with a power of veto over the issue
- Reviewing decisions made by the Police and Crime Commissioner and where necessary undertake further scrutiny of topics of particular interest, or public concern.
- Receiving evidence and scrutinising the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner, making reports and recommendations on matters relating to the Police and Crime Commissioner as appropriate
- A role in investigating complaints about non-criminal behaviour of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
The Police and Crime Panel must meet in public and publish meeting agendas and reports on their website. These can be accessed by visiting http://cumbriapcp.org.uk
