Police and Crime Commissioner review

The UK Government has published the recommendations from part one of its two-part review of Police and Crime Commissioners.

The initial recommendations include:

• Changing the voting system for Police and Crime Commissioners to first-past-the-post.
• Ensuring that Commissioners provide the public with clear information on their force’s performance.
• Mandating the appointment of Deputy Police and Crime Commissioners.
• Making changes to ensure more effective and consistent relationships between Commissioners and Chief Constables.

 

Police and Crime Commissioner Jeff Cuthbert said: “Police and Crime Commissioners are elected to provide a public service and so it is right and proper that the role should be reviewed to ensure that they continue to represent the best method of making policing accountable to the public.

“That said, there are no surprises in the first part of the UK Government’s review. I am confident that here in Gwent we are already delivering on the recommendations announced today as part of our commitment to ensuring that the public receive an efficient and effective service from their police force.  

“We are committed to improving the way in which Gwent Police’s performance is reported and this is regularly scrutinised by the Gwent Police and Crime Panel whose job it is to hold me accountable on behalf of the public.

“I am also fortunate to have a strong and effective working relationship with the Chief Constable of Gwent Police where we both share the common goals of making Gwent a safe place to live, work and visit, while safeguarding the most vulnerable in our society.

“We are not complacent and will always look for ways to ensure we can improve further, but this review has provided reassurance that in Gwent we continue to operate in-line with current best practise.”

The second part of the review will be conducted after the Police and Crime Commissioner elections which take place on Thursday 6 May 2021.