Police and Crime Commissioner’s role in relation to Community Safety in North Wales:
What do Police and Crime Commissioners mean for Community Safety Partnerships in North Wales and how can the Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) prepare for the changes resulting from the election of the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC)?
The Local Government Association has produced a guide to Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) for Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs). This guide explores what PCCs mean for CSPs and how partnerships can prepare for the changes resulting from the election of PCCs:
Police and Crime Commissioners – A guide for Community Safety Partnerships
Unlike Police Authorities, PCCs will not be ‘responsible authorities’ under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, and hence will not be members of CSPs. However, provision in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act place a mutual duty on PCCs and responsible authorities in CSPs to cooperate to reduce crime, disorder and re-offending.
The PCC’s Police and Crime Plan must ‘have regard to’ the priorities of each CSP; and likewise, the CSPs must have regard to the priorities established by the PCC in their Police and Crime plans.
The current ability of the Secretary of State to request a report from a CSP where it is deemed not to be meeting its requirements to reduce crime and disorder will be handed to the PCC. A PCC will also have the ability to call the chairs of the CSPs to a meeting to discuss strategic priorities and other force-wide issues.
One major change which will materialise is that the PCC will be responsible for setting the force budget, making community safety grants, and setting the local precept.
PCCs will have the ability to make grants for the reduction of crime and disorder to any person/organisation they see fit.
CSPs will have to consider if they wish to bid for funding from PCCs. If they do, the onus will be on CSPs to provide an outcomes-based, well evidenced business case in support of their request for funding.
Whatever the approach locally the PCC will have a major impact on community safety, and the PCCs relationship with the CSPs locally will hopefully ensure the delivery of continued reductions in crime and disorder for the communities of North Wales.