Your PCC

As PCC, Matthew has a duty and power to:

– Hold the Chief Constable to account for policing

– Scrutinise, support and challenge performance

– Publish and regularly update a Police and Crime Plan

– Set the force budget and policing precept element of the council tax

– Commission services and award grants

– Engage with communities

– Appoint, and where necessary dismiss, the Chief Constable

In addition to the response to local need, the PCC must also contribute to responding to national and regional criminal activity and threats. The five national threats set out by the Home Secretary in the Strategic Policing Requirement (2012) are public order, counter terrorism, civil contingencies, serious organised crime and cyber incidents.

Matthew has set out his key priorities for the coming years in his Police and Criminal Justice Plan.

The actions, decisions and performance of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) are scrutinised by the Police and Crime Panel for the Thames Valley.

The panel is made up of:

• one councillor from each of the 14 first tier local authorities in the Thames Valley
• 3 additional councillors from Buckinghamshire Council
• one additional councillor from Milton Keynes Council
• 2 independent members

The lead authority that provides support to the Police and Crime Panel is Buckinghamshire County Council.

Panels have a range of powers to help them carry out their function and specific responsibilities relating to the PCC’s Police and Criminal Justice Plan and Annual Report. These include:

– Making reports and recommendations on the Police and Criminal Justice Plan and Annual Report, which the PCC must take account and respond to

– Publishing all reports and recommendations that it makes

– Hold public meetings to discuss the annual report and to question the PCC

Panels can also make reports or recommendations (including the power of veto with a 2/3 majority) about the proposals by PCCs on:

– The level of the precept (council tax charge for the local police service)

– Appointing a Chief Constable

You can find out more about the Panel on its website Thames Valley Police and Crime Panel.

Read about the Panel’s ‘Complaints Procedure’

To successfully tackle crime it is crucial that partners work together whether this be by sharing resources, discussing key issues and/ or coordinating responses.

The PCC works closely with a number of partners and agencies including Thames Valley Police and Community Safety Partnerships.  He is also Chair of the Local Criminal Justice Board. Working in partnership has greatly assisted him when commissioning services for victims, creating his priorities for his Police and Crime Plan and in delivering the Plan itself.

0:00 [Music]

00:03 Did you know that you can influence how your police service

00:06 works through your elected Police and Crime Commissioner?

00:10 They are your voice in policing.

00:14 Your Police and Crime Commissioner is elected by you.

00:17 They act as a bridge between

00:20 you and your local police service.

00:24 The role of the Police and Crime Commissioner is to be the voice

00:27 of the people, and hold the Chief Constable to account.

00:33 Every police force in England and Wales is held to account

00:37 by a Police and Crime Commissioner, or in some areas, by the mayor.

00:41 Their responsibilities include

00:44 setting the police budget and the police priorities,

00:47 which are published in their Police and Crime Plan.

00:50 They also appoint the Chief Constable.

00:54 The Chief Constable is responsible for making all operational

00:59 policing decisions with the PCC providing strategic oversight

01:03 to ensure progress is made against local priorities.

01:07 This includes allocating funding from central government

01:10 and your contribution to policing from council tax.

01:14 Ultimately, PCCs are answerable to you.

01:19 Police and Crime Commissioners are helping to improve the local

01:25 criminal justice system, to support victims of crime and reduce re-offending.

01:30 They work closely with local councils, health services and voluntary

01:35 and community groups to deliver a joined up approach to community safety,

01:38 preventing and reducing crime.

01:42 PCCs have a major role commissioning and funding

01:46 victim services that you can access to help you cope and recover.

01:49 if you have been a victim of crime. PCC’s

01:53 also help local emergency services including police,

01:58 fire and rescue and ambulance services to work together more closely.

02:02 In parts of England, they are also responsible for how local

02:05 fire and rescue services are run.

02:10 Find out more about PCC by visiting the PCC website.

2:20 [Music]