Terms of reference

The terms of reference for the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales (PABEW) describe its aims, structure and the roles and responsibilities of those involved.

These terms of reference take effect from 27 January 2015.

Responsibilities

In accordance with section 63 of the Police Act 1996, the board will:

  • advise the Home Secretary on general questions affecting the police in England and Wales
  • consider draft regulations which the Home Secretary proposes to make under section 50 or section 52 of the Police Act 1996 and make recommendations (except matters about hours of duty, leave, pay and allowances, issue, use and return of police clothing, personal equipment and accoutrements, ranks to be held by members of police forces, qualifications for appointment and promotion of members of police forces, periods of service on probation, maintenance of personal records of members of police forces)
  • consider draft regulations which the Home Secretary proposes to make under section 37, 39, 81 or 83 of the Police Act 1997, and make recommendations
  • consider draft regulations which the Home Secretary proposes to make under part 2 of the Police Reform Act 2002, and make recommendations
  • consider draft regulations which the Home Secretary proposes to make under section 1 of the Police Pensions Act 1976

The PABEW will establish the Scheme Advisory Board for the police pension schemes, in accordance with the requirements of section 7 of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013.

The board may also consider any matter relating to conditions of service (excluding those matters listed above), and any other matter affecting the police which has been referred by the Home Secretary.

It will advise on these matters within any time limit specified by the Home Secretary.

Working with the Home Secretary

  1. The Home Secretary may attend any meetings of the board.
  2. The chair of the board will submit an annual report on the work of the board to the Home Secretary. Before doing so, the chair will consult the board about the proposed report.

In a matter of serious national importance to the police service, the Home Secretary may:

  • direct the board to consider and reach agreement on such matters
  • set a deadline for the board to complete consideration of such matters

Membership

The board will consist of:

  • a chair appointed by the Home Secretary
  • members nominated by the Home Secretary
  • 3 representatives of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners
  • 1 representative of the London Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime
  • 2 representatives of the Association of Chief Police Officers of England and Wales (to include the Metropolitan Police Commissioner)
  • 1 representative of the Chief Police Officers’ Staff Association
  • 2 representatives of the Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales
  • 5 representatives of the Police Federation of England and Wales
  • 1 representative from the trade union side of the Police Staff Council
  • 1 representative from the trade union side of the Metropolitan Police Whitley Council

Meetings

  1. All meetings of the board will be called by the chair with appropriate notice to the members concerned.
  2. The board will normally meet 4 times a year.
  3. The board may establish working parties to address specific issues.
  4. A member of the board may request a meeting to consider any matter specified by them and may submit papers to the chair about any other matter within the remit of the board.
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