Police and Crime Panel

The Warwickshire Police and Crime Panel is a statutory committee established to challenge and support the work of the Commissioner. The Commissioner is required to consult with the Panel on his plans for policing, as well as the annual budget and to seek views on key statutory appointments.

Warwickshire County Council is the host local authority for the Panel and provides administrative and other support to the Panel and its members.  Details of meetings of the panel and links to meeting agendas and associated papers are available by clicking here.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Panel

The Police and Crime Panel holds the Police and Crime Commissioner to account by acting as a ‘critical friend’. Its role is to scrutinise, challenge and support the Commissioner, maintaining a check and balance on the performance of the Commissioner in regards to the strategic actions and decisions made. The Panel is not responsible for holding the Chief Constable or the Constabulary to account and is not a replacement for the Police Authority. The Panel scrutinises the actions and decisions of the Commissioner, not the performance of the police force.

The Panel’s powers include:

• Reviewing and making a report with recommendations on the draft Police and Crime Plan (or a variation of it) which the Commissioner must take account of and respond to;
• Reviewing and making a report on the Commissioner’s annual report, which will outline performance against the targets set in the Police and Crime Plan;
• Holding confirmation hearings for the proposed appointment of important staff working for the Commissioner, such as the Chief Executive, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (if one is appointed). The Panel cannot refuse appointments but can make recommendations to the Commissioner;
• Hold confirmation hearings in relation to the appointment of a Chief Constable by the Police and Crime Commissioner. The Panel has the power to make a report on and, if appropriate and agreed by a sufficient majority, veto the proposed appointment;
• Monitoring relevant non-criminal complaints against the Commissioner;
• The consideration of the Commissioner’s proposed precept level (the money collected from council tax for policing). The Panel has the power to make a report on and, if appropriate and agreed by a sufficient majority, veto the proposed precept level. The Panel can also recommend that the precept should be higher or lower than proposed;
• Requesting the Commissioner and the Commissioner’s staff to attend Panel meetings to answer questions;
• Scrutinising the decisions of the Commissioner; and
• Making reports and recommendations on any action or decision of the Commissioner.