Council to lead police watchdog

TOWN Hall bosses at Warrington are to be asked to agree that the borough should be the lead authority to set up a new Police and Crime Panel to scrutinise the activities of Cheshire’s new Police and Crime Commissioner.
The Commissioner – who will be directly elected by the public – is to take over from the Cheshire Police Authority in November.
Members of the Cheshire Sub-regional Leadership Board have already agreed that Warrington Borough Council should be the host authority for the new Panel.
It will consist of 10 members appointed by Cheshire council.
Warrington will have two places on the Panel, Cheshire East four, Cheshire West and Chester three and Halton one – representation being based on population.
The Government has stated that the new Panel will not simply replace the Police Authority.
A report by chief executive Diana Terris (pictured), to be considered by Warrington’s executive board on April 16, says the function of the new Panel will be to contribute to the new Police and Crime Commission’s (PCC) police and crime plan, scrutinise the PCC and receive evidence from the Chief Constable at “set piece” events at certain points of the year.
They will also review the PCC’s proposed precept, review the PCC’s proposed appointments of Chief Constable, Chief Executive and other senior positions.
Warrington will receive £53,300 for support and running costs as host authority and £920 per panel member for expenses incurred.
Candidates for the post of PCC will must provide a £5,000 deposit when registering as a candidate, which they will get back if they receive more than five per cent of the vote.
To become a valid candidate for PCC, a person must be nominated by 100 people registered to vote in that police force area.
Just how the election will be organised has yet to be decided, but it may be via postal vote or the ballot box.
Voters will be asked to indicate first and second preferences and if no candidate has 50 per cent of the first preference votes, the two with th3e highest number will proceed to a second round when ballots indicating a first preference for a candidate that lost the first round will be reallocated according to their second preference.
The Warrington Community Safety Partnership has started to prepare for the introduction of the PCC and the new Panel.
They are developing a “Welcome Pack” to provide the new PCC with a quick and comprehensive guide to Warrington, to enable the PCC to understand the framework which has been established in the borough in response to reductions in funding and the drive to a more intelligence led process. This should encourage the PCC to invest more in Warrington, maintaining and building on the progress already made to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour in the borough.
Warrington will be required to make appointments to a “shadow” Police and Crime Panel after the May elections.