FOI release

The role of police and crime commissioners

Published 6 December 2012

© Crown copyright 2012

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/police-and-crime-commissioners--2/police-and-crime-commissioners

We have received a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the following: 

  1. Will they be obliged to consult the public? By what mechanism?
  2. Why is the new system deemed to be an improvement on the current system?

We released the following information on 06 December 2012:

  1. Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) will be directly accountable to the public and subject to on-going public scrutiny; have the democratic mandate to respond to local people’s concerns; set local force’s policing priorities and their local police force budget; work with local partners to prevent crime; hold their Chief Constable to account for the performance of the force; appoint, and where necessary dismiss, the Chief Constable. PCCs will directly consult with the public at their discretion.

  2. PCCs are the most significant democratic reform of policing in our lifetime. They will work with the police to cut crime, give the public a voice at the highest level, hold forces to account and help restore trust. The former police authorities are invisible and unaccountable, while exercising significant powers over force budgets and strategic control. PCCs are a key component of a comprehensive plan to fight crime. This is part of our programme to devolve power and responsibility to decentralise government in those areas where the professionals and the public should be in the driving seat

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