Representatives from organisations across the area will hear later this week about the impact of major changes in the arrangements for ensuring public accountability of the police service.
Cleveland Police Authority has organised the ‘Partner Event’ at Cleveland Police Headquarters on Friday (January 20) to explain the plans for the introduction in November of Elected Police Commissioners, replacing the current police authorities.
Around 100 people are expected to attend the event where representatives of the Police Authority and the Force, the Home Office, local authorities and other criminal justice partners, will explain the roles of the Commissioner, the relationships with other bodies, how the elections will be organised, and the transition process which is now under way.
Explains Police Authority Chair, Mayor Stuart Drummond, who will open the event “This is without doubt one of the most significant developments in British policing for over 50 years. The commissioner will be the person elected by residents right across the Cleveland area. This will be a ‘big hitter’ in terms of political and actual power and influence. They will take on many of the responsibilities which up to now have been undertaken by police authorities, but will have a much wider remit in terms of crime and criminal justice generally.
“The Commissioner will have very considerable powers in relationship to the police—but responsibility for operational day to day policing will remain firmly with the Chief Constable and the Force.
“We hope that this event will help to raise awareness amongst the many different partners involved in reducing crime and improving community safety. The public who will be asked to vote for the first Cleveland Police Commissioner on 15th November and one of the things that this event will focus on is raising public awareness and interest”
Adds Police Authority Chief Executive Stuart Pudney “One of the key tasks now facing the Authority is ensuring the smoothest possible transition and enabling whoever is elected as Commissioner has the right support to take on the very considerable responsibilities involved in the job.
“This is certainly not something which we can do alone—for example the oversight of the election process and the setting up of the Police and Crime Panel will rest with our local authorities—and one of the most important things we want to discuss with partners at the event on Friday is how they can get involved over the coming months and once the new system is in place.”