Job Profiles
Chairman of the Authority
Role
To fulfil the basic responsibilities of a Police Authority Member and hold the office of Chairman of the Authority.
Additional Responsibilities
- To provide leadership, ensuring that the authority works as a coherent and corporate body.
- To preside at authority meetings, applying standing orders and ensure that members have a fair opportunity to participate in debates.
- To present the authority to the press and outside organisations.
- To oversee co-ordination of police authority business at member level and develop, review and monitor implementation of the policies and strategies of the police authority.
- To liaise with the Chief Executive, Treasurer and Chief Constable to facilitate authority business.
- To hold regular strategic meetings with the Chief Constable.
- To undertake performance review of the members of the chief officer team.
- To appoint the Police Authority's officers and staff and ensure that arrangements are in place for effective management of officers and staff.
- To ensure that Authority Members receive the support and training they need to carry out their functions effectively.
- To represent the Authority on the Association of Police Authorities.
- To attend regional networks and national tripartite gatherings, as required.
Vice Chairman
Role
To fulfil the basic responsibilities of a Police Authority Member and to hold the office of Vice Chairman of the Authority.
Additional Responsibilities
- To deputise for the Chairman when necessary.
- To liaise closely with the Chairman and assist him/her in overseeing conduct of the Authority's business as described in the Chairman's job profile.
- To represent the Authority on the APA, if nominated to do so.
Chairmen of Committees
Role
To fulfil the basic responsibilities of a Police Authority Member and to chair a Committee or similar of the Authority.
Additional Responsibilities
- To lead the work of a Committee or similar of the Authority.
- To act as the Authority's lead member and spokesperson on the areas within the Committee's remit.
- To develop and maintain up-to-date knowledge and specialist expertise in the area for which responsible.
- To liaise closely with authority and police staff in developing and managing the work of the Committee or similar.
- To contribute to national policy development, national events or APA networks or initiatives on the areas for which responsible.
Police Authority Member
Responsibilities
- To carry out collectively all statutory and locally determined requirements of a Police Authority Member, including participation in the formulation of policy, decision-making and other activities of the full authority (such as determining the budget and precept, determining local policing priorities, agreeing the annual policing/best value plan and other strategies). For more information please see Police Authority - Statutory Duties and Responsibilities.
- To participate effectively as a member of any committee, panel, task group or other authority forum to which the Member is appointed.
- To comply with all relevant codes of conduct and maintain the highest standards of conduct and ethics.
- To maintain an up-to-date knowledge and awareness of national and local policing issues.
- To maintain a good working knowledge of force policies and practices and to establish good working relationships with officers of both the authority and the police service.
- To rigorously scrutinise, challenge and monitor all aspects of force performance.
- To participate fully in local consultative arrangements and actively engage in communication and dialogue with local people about local policing services.
- To represent the views of the Police Authority within local communities and the views of local communities to the Authority.
- To participate actively in any outside body or forum on which the member is appointed to represent the Authority.
- To be involved in the appointment, discipline or dismissal of senior officers, as appropriate.
- To monitor the way in which complaints are dealt with by the force and deal with complaints against chief officers.
- To promote equality of opportunity and work to eliminate unlawful discrimination both internally within the Authority and force and in the provision of policing services.
- To attend local, regional and national conferences/seminars/briefings, if nominated by the Authority.
- To answer questions at council meetings, if nominated to do so by the Authority.
- To ensure that an effective Independent Custody Visiting Scheme is maintained.
- To participate in inspections and audits of the force and Authority.