Police and Crime Commissioners were created by The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 and replaced Police Authorities. The Act, and supporting legislation, outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Police and Crime Commissioner as well as the Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Panel.
Police and Crime Commissioner
- Setting the strategic direction for policing in Derbyshire
- Setting, reviewing, and updating the Police and Crime Plan
- Agreeing the Force Budget and setting the Council Tax precept for policing (in consultation with the Police and Crime Panel)
- Holding the Chief Constable to account for delivering an efficient and effective police service that responds to the needs of the public as set out in the Police and Crime Plan
- Appointing, and if necessary, dismissing the Chief Constable and dealing with any matters relating to complaints or discipline about the Chief
- Acting as the review body for complaints made to the police
- Regularly engaging with communities to understand concerns and priorities
- Regularly engaging with victims of crime to understand their concerns and priorities
- Commissioning the services of partner agencies to deliver a joined-up approach to crime, including the distribution of grants and other funding streams
- Commissioning services to support people who have been a victim of crime with a view to helping them cope and recover from their experiences
- Helping to facilitate partnership working, and where necessary, helping to remove any blockages to effective partnership working
Chief Constable
- Lead the implementation of organisational and operational strategy for the Force, having due regard to the Police and Crime Plan and Strategic Policing Requirement
- Develop a mutually productive strategic relationship with the Police and Crime Commissioner in line with the requirements of the Policing Protocol
- Develop and maintain governance arrangements and processes within the force
- Lead the Force, communicating a clear direction, setting organisational culture and promoting values, ethics, and high standards of professional conduct
- Lead, inspire and engage the Chief Officer Team
- Hold accountability for Force financial management and determine functional budgets within the agreed framework as issued by the Police and Crime Commissioner
- Fulfil the authorising responsibilities of a Chief Constable such as authorisation of intrusive surveillance and maintain operational oversight
- Lead and command the operational policing responses on occasion, in the highest risk and high profile instances
- Advise national bodies such as COBR (The Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms) on matters of public safety and national security
- Develop and maintain strategic relationships with local, regional, and national partners
- Represent the Force at a local, regional, and national level to the public, media and otherexternal stakeholders
- Lead national thinking, policy and guidance within an area of specialism
- Play an active role in national decision making on the development of the Police Service
By law the Police and Crime Commissioner is required to respect the operational independence of the Chief Constable.
The roles and responsibilities of Police and Crime Commissioners are currently being reviewed by Government and there is the possibility for new, or re-defined, responsibilities being given to us over the course of this Police and Crime Plan. I will be working closely with my team, and fellow Police and Crime Commissioners to understand what these new responsibilities include and how we will deliver against them.