| 25 January 2012
Vigilance can report that Lancashire and Cumbria yesterday played host yesterday to the first of a series of regional events designed to prepare communities for the arrival of police and crime commissioners.
According to a police source in ten months time the public across England and Wales, in each of the 41 police force areas outside London, will take to the ballot box to elect their own commissioner.
Cutting crime and setting policing priorities
The job of police and crime commissioners (PCCs) will be to:
• cut crime and deliver an effective and efficient police service within their force area
• consult with the public to set policing priorities
• ensure local and national priorities are suitably funded by setting a budget and the local precept
• hold to account the local chief constable for the performance of the force
• ensure community needs are met as effectively as possible and deliver a real, tangible difference to the lives of the electorate they represent
Opportunities for close working
Vigilance learnt that in preparation for the arrival of PCCs, Home Office representatives met with local authorities and criminal justice, voluntary, community safety and health organisations in Lancashire and Cumbria to discuss opportunities for close working with PCCs.
A spokesperson for the police said it was also a chance for organisations to raise questions about commissioners ahead of their election later this year.
Nick Herbert Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice said: “The arrival of police and crime commissioners will be the most significant democratic reform of policing in our lifetime. From November, the people of Lancashire and Cumbria will have a stronger voice in how their streets are policed and will be able to turn to their local commissioner to hold the police to account on their behalf.”