Information about Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Panel:
The way police policy is formed in the UK has changed and from November 2012 every police force has an elected police and crime commissioner (PCC) to
decide its priorities and budgets. The PCC replaces the police authority. The Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon is
Angus Macpherson. He can be contacted by telephone on 01380 734022 or by email:
pcc@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk
To hold the PCC to account and scrutinise their work is the Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Panel (PCP), made up of 11 Cuncillors and two independent co-opted members.
The panel fulfills an important role in scrutinising the work of commissioner.
The changes are about reconnecting the police and the people, which will be achieved through a directly elected
police and crime commissioner.
It is the commissioner who is taking on the role of the police authority and who the public will hold to account for the performance of their force.
He is tasked with gathering the views of the local community on policing and crime and incorporating these into their police and crime plan. Police and crime panels will have a role in reviewing
that plan and ensuring that local priorities have been considered.
The police and crime panel also has the power to scrutinise the activities of the elected police and crime commissioner, including the ability to review the police and crime plan and annual report,
veto certain decisions, request PCC papers and call the PCCs and chief constables to public hearings.
The panel can also seek a professional view regarding potential dismissals.
It will act as a critical friend to commissioners – to support the commissioner as well as challenge him or her.
The panel does have some important decision-making powers in that it can veto the precept and the chief constable appointment. These are powers that the PCP can use as a
last resort.
The
Police and Crime Panel is in public from November 2012, and will continue to meet four to six times a year at locations across the county.
Details of meeting dates and committee papers are available on the
Wiltshire Council website.
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