Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011
The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act received Royal Assent in September 2011. The changes that this act of parliament will bring include the abolition of Police Authorities and the introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners and Police and Crime Panels from November 2012 in each of the 41 police force areas in England and Wales. It will mark a fundamental change to the governance of Policing.
The changes are being introduced because the Government believes public accountability in the police service needs to be increased. The WLGA was strongly opposed to the changes arguing that there was no need to dismantle the current system as democratic accountability of police already existed through Police Authorities. A number of responses were sent to Government by both the WLGA and jointly with the Police Authorities of Wales to outline our concerns at the consultation stage.
Despite these original concerns now the Act has been passed, the WLGA is currently working hard with Police Authorities and Local Authorities of Wales to ensure that the changes can be introduced as effectively as possible and within the timescales laid out by the Home Office.
Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs)
PCC’s functions will be broadly similar to those of Police Authorities currently. Their overall responsibility will be to maintain an effective and efficient police service by holding the Chief Constable to account. The PCC will play a leading role in community safety and crime reduction in the force area and their duties will include:
- holding the chief constable to account for the delivery of the force
- setting and updating a police and crime plan
- setting the force budget and precept
- regularly engaging with the public and communities
- appointing, and where necessary dismissing, the chief constable
Police and Crime Panels (PCPs)
PCPs will have power to scrutinise PCC activities, including the ability to review the police and crime plan and annual report, veto decisions, request PCC papers and call PCCs and chief constables to public hearings. The panel can also seek a professional view from HMIC regarding potential dismissals. Local authorities will need to choose a lead authority to hold central funding and provide scrutiny support. PCPs will comprise of at least one elected representative from each local authority within the force area and two independent members or co-optees.
Transition preparation
In order to put the necessary practical and technical arrangements in place for establishing Police and Crime Panels by October 2012, the WLGA held a development day on the 26th April with local authorities across Wales. The day was extremely useful and authorities are now much clearer about the expected role of PCPs and the required steps needed to establish and support their work.
A number of follow up meetings of local authorities will be taking place over the coming weeks in their respective police force areas to discuss in more detail how they wish to take forward the establishment of PCPs including identifying lead authorities in each of the four force areas by July 2012. Both Police Authorities of Wales and the WLGA will be playing a facilitating role to assist in this process.
One key issue which is receiving further consideration currently is centred on funding. The WLGA recently consulted with local authorities on the role it can play in supporting Welsh authorities by pooling the limited funding together to provide additional flexibility and help to mitigate the risk for a lead Local Authority in any area that exceeds the level of funding available.
Discussions are also continuing with the Home Office on how any ‘exceptional costs’ that occur as a consequence of the work of a PCP, beyond their ‘business as usual’ will be covered. This will further help minimise risk and provide reassurance on the financial support available for the work of PCPs.
Additionally, the WLGA is liaising closely with Community Safety Partnerships to keep them fully updated on the development of Police and Crime Panels through its various networks such as the All Wales Community Safety Forum and Welsh Association of Community Safety Officers.
Further information and updates will be made available here in the near future.
For more information contact: Seth Newman