POLICE & CRIME COMMISSIONER COMING SOON JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION
SO WHAT’S HAPPENING? On November 15, residents in Avon and Somerset will go to the polls to elect the first ever Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to the area. A PCC will be elected for every police force area in England and Wales (except London).
WHAT WILL THEY DO?
Police and Crime Commissioner’s (PCC’s) will replace Police Authorities and will have much wider powers in community safety and criminal justice. They will be responsible for: • Writing a Police and Crime Plan that sets out their priorities and what they will spend their money on • Setting local policing priorities • Allocating a community safety fund to support the Police & Crime Commissioner’s priorities • Appointing the Chief Constable and holding them to account for the running of their police service • Raising or lowering the proportion of council tax that goes towards policing
WHY DOES IT MATTER TO ME?
PCC’s will need to work in partnership because as well as their core policing PCC’ role, they will have a remit to cut crime, and will have commissioning powers c omm s have and funding to enable them to do this. powe issioning This will include work to influence how all organisations or groups prioritise rs and and bring together their resources to find local solutions to meet local the remit t problems and priorities. Strong partnership working, as well as exploring cut cr o new working arrangements, will be central to the Avon and Somerset ime Police and Crime Commissioner’s success. The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 provides powers for Commissioner’s to award grants to any organisation or body they consider will support their community safety priorities. They will also have the flexibility to align funding with local partners to deliver the priorities set out in the Police and Crime Plan. PCC’s must also make sure that the criminal justice system in Avon and Somerset is “efficient and effective”. However PCC’s cannot influence decisions taken by criminal justice partners in individual cases, judiciary and prosecutors remain independent of the state.
THE COMMISSIONER AND THE COMMUNITY.
The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 puts in place a flexible framework for partnership working between the Commissioner and their community safety and criminal justice partners. This includes duties to cooperate with the responsible authorities who work in partnership to deliver safer communities, as well as the partners across the criminal justice system.
WHEN DOES IT START?
From April 2013, in addition to the main police grant and policing part of the council tax, Avon and Somerset’s Police and Crime Commissioner will also receive a community safety fund. In line with all public sector cuts this funding has been reducing and it is unclear how much it will be, although it is expected to be less than is currently available. However it could support local priorities which might include tackling drugs and crime, reducing re-offending, and improving community safety.
WHAT CAN I DO?
Ahead of the PCC’s arrival in November there is much you or your organisation can do to maximise the PCC’s understanding of how best to align local services to meet local needs. You could prepare for the future Commissioner by: • Considering current partnership priorities, and the potential involvement and interests of the Commissioner • Understanding how the arrival of the Commissioner may affect your current programme and funding arrangements • Considering how you can help the Commissioner to understand the needs of local people, using existing engagement mechanisms • Discussing how you could support commissioning across partnerships and agencies, or across the police force area
THE N N I JOINERSATIO .uk V e CON Emailset.pnn.potliecrs
t er dsom ur newsle n a n o o r av pcc@ register fo to
I f you have particular information or evidence you would like to bring to the attention of the Commissioner please contact us.
JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION: pcc@avonandsomerset.pnn.police.uk http://www.facebook.com/AandSPCC @AandSPCC
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