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Leicestershire Police Authority

The Role of a Police Authority Member December 8th 2009

Each police force in England and Wales has a Police Authority, who are responsible for the governance Policing.

A police Authority is a group of 17 local people (slightly more in much larger areas). These are a mixture of elected Councillors and Independent people from the community.

The overall job of a Police Authority is to make sure the Chief Constable delivers a police service which balances both national priorities and the concerns of local people.

The Authority is responsible for,

  • Approving the police budget/Council Tax precept
  • Monitoring police performance
  • Appointing chief officers
  • Consulting with the public and set local policing priorities
  • Monitoring complaints against the police
  • Running an Independent Custody Visiting Scheme

A member of the Authority has many duties to fulfil and these include,

  • representing the views of the Police Authority within local communities and the views of local communities to the Authority
  • Participating effectively at meetings of the Authority
  • maintaining an up-to-date knowledge and awareness of national and local policing issues
  • rigorously scrutinising, challenging and monitoring all aspects of force performance.
  • Being involved in the appointment, discipline or dismissal of senior officers, as appropriate
  • ensuring that an effective Independent Custody Visiting Scheme is maintained
  •  monitoring the way in which complaints are dealt with by the force and deal with complaints against chief officers

A vacancy for an Independent Member will arise with effect from 1 April 2010 and the Authority is currently recruiting for that.  To view an application visit  our website: www.leics-pa.police.uk email: police.authority@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk or telephone: 0116 229 89 80 or text 07847 359 130