Association of Police and Crime Commissioners

PCCs welcome HASC call for greater transparency


The Home Affairs Committee has published a report on Police and Crime Commissioners interests. Commenting on the report, Sir Graham Bright, Cambridgeshire PCC said:

"I welcome the Home Affairs Committee's recognition that Commissioners are a lynchpin in the new landscape of policing.  

We will look closely at the proposal for a national register of PCCs' interests. PCCs want to ensure the public are confident that all decisions made are as transparent as possible and made in their best interests.  

Although there are some constructive recommendations for PCCs to take on board, sadly the report is undermined by inconsistency, as well as some inaccuracies.  

For example, the report states that I have 14 members of staff, which I have, but it has not made clear only three are full time. The information presented is not comparable.    

In Humberside, the report states the PCCs office costs are 2.6% higher than the previous police authority yet Humberside's OPCC office cost are the same as the Police Authority and have not increased.  

Nottinghamshire also report that there is an error reporting its office costs. The Nottinghamshire budget for 2013-14 is currently estimated at £1.1m. This is a reduction of over 10% not the reported increase of 17%. These are just a sample of the errors identified in the report.  

Given that PCCs are responsible for a combined budget of £8 billion, it is disappointing that the Home Affairs Committee has not recognised the greater responsibilities PCCs discharge in office compared to Police Authorities. The Committee also fails to recognise the variance in size of force areas. PCCs representing metropolitan areas will have a bigger office budget because they deal with a larger force and population compared to rural areas."  
Ends. 

Notes to editors - PCCs and the APCC

1. For interviews / further information please contact Joel Charles on 07703 124 174.

2. 41 Police and Crime Commissioners replaced Police Authorities on 22.11.12 following elections in every police force area outside London in England and Wales on November 15th 2012.

3. The APCC is a company limited by guarantee. The APCC services will be overseen and directed by the Chairman, Directors and Reference Group.

New APCC board of Directors;
Chairman of the APCC and Directors: Tony Lloyd PCC
Sir Graham Bright PCC
Anthony Stansfeld PCC
Vera Baird PCC
Ron Ball PCC
Simon Hayes PCC
Cllr Simon Duckworth

4. For the definitive list of PCCs and more information about the Board of the Association of PCCs please visit www.apccs.police.uk

5. The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) offers the following services to PCCs:

  • Information on national policing policy issues and legislation.
  • Consults PCCs to enable them to develop policy positions and to influence change.
  • Facilitates the leadership of PCCs on national governance structures such as the College of Policing, National Crime Agency and Police Professional Bodies.
  • Assists PCCs in collaborating to share practice, procure services, and identify ways to achieve efficiencies through working together.