Staffordshire police, fire and crime panel

The panel's role is to scrutinise the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, to promote transparency of Police and Fire and Rescue business and also to support the Commissioner in the effective exercise of their functions.

Contents

Terms of reference

Police and crime matters 

  • To review and make a report or recommendation to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner on the draft police and crime plan, or draft variation, given to the panel by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner
  • To make comments and question the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner on the contents of the Commissioner's annual report at a public meeting to be held as soon as possible after the publication of that report
  • To hold a confirmation hearing and review, make a report, and recommendation (as necessary) in respect of proposed senior appointments (i.e. Chief Executive, Chief Finance Officer and Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner) made by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner
  • To review, and make a report to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner on the proposed appointment of the Chief Constable. The panel to have the power, on a two-thirds majority of the persons who are members of the panel at the time when the decision is made, to veto the appointment where considered appropriate
  • To receive any notification from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner of a decision by him to suspend the Chief Constable
  • To review and make a report and recommendation to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner on any proposal to call for the resignation or retirement of the Chief Constable
  • To review and make a report and recommendation to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (as necessary) on the proposed police precept. The panel to have the power, on a two-thirds majority of the persons who are members of the panel at the time when the decision is made, to veto the precept where considered appropriate
  • To review or scrutinise decisions made, or other action taken, by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner in connection with the discharge of the Commissioner’s functions, including holding the Chief Constable to account, setting the police precept and budget, appointing (and removing) the Chief Constable and publishing a police and crime plan setting out the strategic policing objectives
  • To ensure that, when formulating the police and crime plan, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner gives due regard to the priorities of local community safety partnerships and the residents they serve. 


Fire and Rescue Matters

  • To review and make a report or recommendation to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner on the draft fire and rescue plan, or draft variation, given to the panel by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner
  • To hold a public meeting to question the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner on the fire and rescue statement (of assurance), review the statement and make a report or recommendations on the statement to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner
  • To hold a confirmation hearing and review, make a report, and recommendation (as necessary) in respect of a proposed appointment by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to the post of Chief Finance Officer
  • To hold a Confirmation Hearing to review, and make a report to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner on the proposed appointment of a Chief Fire Officer. The panel to have the power, on a two-thirds majority of the persons who are members of the panel at the time when the decision is made, to veto the appointment where considered appropriate
  • To receive any notification from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner of a decision by him to suspend the Chief Fire Officer
  • To review and make a report and recommendation to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner on any proposal to dismiss the Chief Fire Officer
  • To review and make a report and recommendation to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (as necessary) on the proposed Fire Precept. The panel to have the power, on a two-thirds majority of members of the panel at the time when the decision is made, to veto the precept where considered appropriate
  • Scrutiny of the integrated risk management plan (IRMP) or other document which serves to:
    • Set out, for a specified period, an assessment of all foreseeable fire and rescue related risks that could affect the area of the authority
      and
    • Proposals including about the allocation of resources for the mitigation of those risks


General 

  • To make reports or recommendations to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner with respect to the discharge of the commissioner’s functions
  • To support the effective exercise of the functions of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner
  • To deal with non-serious complaints against the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and/or the Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, in relation to their conduct. More serious matters relating to police and crime to be passed to the Independent Office for Police Complaints (IOPC)
  • To appoint an acting Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner if necessary
  • If considered appropriate, to suspend the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner if it appears to the panel that the commissioner has been charged in the United Kingdom or Isle of Man with an offence which carries a maximum term of imprisonment exceeding two years


Final version - updated at PCP meeting 03/07/2018.