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Steve Thomas CBE Chief Executive Prif Weithredwr
Welsh Local Government Association Local Government House Drake Walk CARDIFF CF10 4LG Tel: 029 2046 8600 Fax: 029 2046 8601
Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru Tŷ Llywodraeth Leol Rhodfa Drake CAERDYDD CF10 4LG Ffôn: 029 2046 8600 Ffacs: 029 2046 8601
www.wlga.gov.uk
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CELG(4)-07-11 : Paper 6
Ms Ann Jones AM
Chair
Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee
National Assembly for Wales
Cardiff Bay
Cf99 1NA
Dear Ms Jones
Committee Inquiry into Community Safety in Wales
Thank you for the opportunity to present evidence to members of the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee as part of their Inquiry into Community Safety in Wales. I apologise for the lateness of the paper submitted as written evidence from the WLGA which subsequently resulted in minimal time for members to consider the issues highlighted in the paper before the evidence session.
If I recall correctly, I have been asked to provide a note for the Committee on the duty on Police and Crime Commissioners to consult and engage with others in ensuring the voice of others are heard, for example, in preparing a Police and Crime Plan. I attach to this letter a short note that addresses this issue however if you require any further information or detail please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Naomi Alleyne
Director, Equalities and Social Justice
Supplementary Note
Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee
Police and Crime Commissioner’s and their duty to consult
The main functions of a Police and Crime Commissioner will be to:
Ø Secure an efficient and effective police force for their area
Ø Appoint the chief constable, hold them to account for the running of the force and if dismiss them
Ø Set the police and crime objectives for area by producing a five year Police and Crime Plan (in consultation with the chief constable)
Ø Set the annual force budget and police precept, and produce an annual report setting out their progress against the objectives in the Police and Crime Plan
Ø Contribute to the national and international policing capabilities set out by the Home Secretary in the Strategic Policing Requirement
Ø Co-operate with the criminal justice system in their area
Ø Work with partners and fund community safety activity to tackle crime and disorder.
Duty to co-operate
PCCs will not be ‘responsible authorities’ under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and as such will not be members of the CSP. However, there is provision in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 that places a mutual duty on PCCs and he responsible authorities on a CSP to co-operate to reduce crime and disorder and re-offending.
Section 10(1) of the Act states that in exercising their functions, the elected local policing body and a responsible authority “must act in co-operation with each other”.
Section 10(2) of the Act states that in exercising their functions, the elected local policing body and the criminal justice bodies “must make arrangements (so far as it is appropriate to do so) for the exercise of functions so as to provide an efficient and effective criminal justice system”.
The aim is that the reciprocal duty to co-operate will ensure that decisions that PCCs and their partners take on local priorities and investment take account of their wider implications.
The UK Government’s intention is that the introduction of PCCs offers an opportunity to:
Ø Help join up the criminal justice system and to ensure its focus on local community safety outcomes
Ø Increase public engagement on the criminal justice system and community safety outcomes; and
Ø Work collaboratively on criminal justice and community safety issues.