Wesley Johnson, Press Association Home Affairs Correspondent
Directly-elected police and crime commissioners should earn between 65,000 and 100,000 a year, advisers said today. Home Secretary Theresa May said she was considering the recommendation that would see the salary bill for the 41 new posts in forces across England and Wales total between 2.6 million and 4.1 million a year.
But the 100,000 recommended limit would be considerably lower than the salaries of the chief constables whom the new commissioners will have the power to hire and fire, fuelling concerns over the ability to attract top candidates to the jobs.
The final decision will be made in due course and in good time to allow potential candidates to be clear on what they can expect their salary to be, Mrs May told MPs.
The recommendation was made by the Senior Salaries Review Body. Elections for the new posts are expected to take place in November next year and candidates who are successful in the larger forces, such as West Midlands, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire, are likely to be the best paid.
In London, the mayor will act as the police and crime commissioner for the Metropolitan Police, Britains largest force, but may delegate the day-to-day functions to a Deputy Mayor for Crime and Policing.
The controversial commissioners will have the power to hire and fire chief constables and will also set the forces budget and strategic direction. Last month, Iraq War veteran Colonel Tim Collins revealed he plans to stand for election in Kent, where he lives. Col Collins, who became famous worldwide for his inspirational eve-of-battle address to his men in the Royal Irish Regiment, is putting himself forward for selection as a Conservative candidate.
The Belfast-born former Army officer, who served in Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq before quitting in 2004, said he was inspired by the achievements of New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. He also said he wanted to make more use of special constables.