Police and Crime Panel
Although the PCC is ultimately accountable to the electorate via the ballot box, there will be a Police and Crime Panel (PCP) responsible for scrutinising and supporting the work of the PCC. The Panel, however, can not hold Hampshire Constabulary to account.
The local authorities within Hampshire are responsible for establishing and maintaining the PCP. By the end of summer of 2012 it is expected a shadow PCP for Hampshire will be put together. This will give the panel time to make the arrangements needed in order to scrutinise the work of the PCC once he/she is in office in November 2012.Hampshire County Council has been identified as the lead Authority.
PCPs will be made up of one councillor member from each local authority, and a number of independent members. In Hampshire, the PCP will comprise 15 Councillors (one from each of the Local Authorities within the Policing Area including Hampshire County, Boroughs and Districts, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton) plus an additional 2 co-opted members (exclusions apply). With the permission of the Secretary of State the PCP may appoint a further 3 co-opted persons.
The PCP will have powers and responsibilities including:
To review the draft Police and Crime Plan
To publicly scrutinise the PCC's Annual Report
To review and scrutinise decisions and actions by the PCC
To review and veto the PCC's proposed Council Tax precept levels
To review the PCC’s Conduct – the PCP can suspend the PCC if they are charged with 2yr imprisonable offence and report to IPCC, however they cannot remove PCC
To confirm the Chief Constable’s appointment
To appoint an acting PCC, if required
Unofficial guidance, co-produced by the Centre for Public Scrutiny and the Local Government Association, on Police and Crime Panels can been found here.
This page was last updated on 12 March 2012. © Copyright Hampshire Police Authority 2012.