Police and Crime Panel frequently asked questions

The Panel has the role of scrutinising the performance of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). The Panel challenges and supports the PCC's activities over a range of policy areas, including the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan. The Panel also has a role in the handling of complaints against the PCC and the confirmation of key staff posts within the Office of the PCC. 

The Home Office has produced a national protocol to define the relationship between the PCC, the Panel and the Chief Constable. In brief, the protocol says that:

• the PCC has responsibility for setting the 'strategic direction and objectives of the force', and monitoring performance including against the priorities in their Police and Crime Plan
• the PCC is responsible for holding the chief constable to account, but not fettering the chief constable's operational independence, or that of the force
• the PCC provides the 'local link' between the police and the public, working to 'translate the legitimate desires and aspirations of the public into action'
• the PCC must comply with all formal requests from the panel to attend its meetings
• the PCC must prepare and issue an annual report to the panel on delivery against the objectives in their Police and Crime Plan 
• the PCC has other wider responsibilities: making crime and disorder reduction grants, delivery of community safety, enhancement of the delivery of criminal justice in the area, bringing together Community Safety Partnerships at force level, and, importantly, the 'ability to enter into collaboration agreements between other PCCs and forces'.

The Panel can require the PCC or a member of their staff to attend a meeting to answer questions; appoint an acting PCC if required; veto the PCC's proposed policing precept or the appointment of a Chief Constable (by two thirds majority); and request sight of papers held by the PCC. The Panel can request but not require the Chief Constable to attend a meeting alongside the PCC. The accountability of the Chief Constable remains firmly to the PCC and not to the Panel.

The Chair of the Panel is elected by the Panel members annually.

Current members of the Panel.

In Suffolk there are 13 members of the Panel.

Legislation says there must be 12 and we have to get permission from the Secretary of State for the Home Office, and the agreement of the Panel itself to appoint more than this.

They include 11 councillors who are appointed so that they represent the proportion of councillors in Suffolk for each political group.

There must also be two independent co-opted members who cannot be councillors.

The current members of the Panel are shown on the Committee section of this website.

Vacancies for the independent co-opted members of the panel are widely advertised, together with the criteria which need to be met in order to apply. 

The shortlisting process is undertaken in accordance with standard practice within the Council to consider each applicant's submission in relation to the role profile and the person specification.

The Chair, Vice-Chair and the council's monitoring officer select the highest scoring applicants to be shortlisted for interview.

Interviews are then conducted by the same panel of three.

The interview panel makes a recommendation to the Suffolk Police and Crime Panel which formally appoints the two independent co-opted panel members.

We look to see how many councillors there are across the county, district and borough councils in Suffolk and how they are affiliated to each political group.

This information is used to work out how many members the authorities need to nominate from each group.

The leaders of each of the councils agree how the number of places will be allocated between them and then nominate a member or members from their authority.

We are then able to ensure that there is the necessary representation to achieve the political balance which the law says we must have.

Yes, they have the same requirements as elected members in this respect.

After each council election we look at the number of seats for each political group across the county to make sure that the Panel still meets the political balance requirements.

The panel must hold confirmation hearings when the PCC proposes to make an appointment to the following roles:

• Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner
• Chief Constable
• Chief Executive
• Chief Finance Officer

The PCC must notify the Panel that they wish to make one of the above appointments, and the Panel has three weeks to respond to the PCC with a recommendation as to whether the appointment should be confirmed. The Panel must invite the candidate to attend a confirmation hearing to answer questions relating to the appointment before making a recommendation. 

The PCC may choose to accept or reject the Panel's recommendation and must notify the Panel of their decision, except in the case of a veto on the appointment of a chief constable, in which case the appointment may not be made. The appointment cannot be made until the end of the confirmation process.

Confirmation hearings are held in public, although the panel may deliberate in private and will publish its recommendation.

The panel is financed by the Home Office. Details of funding for the past seven financial years are as follows:

For the 2017/18 financial year, the Home Office has approved an annual grant of up to £65,260 to Suffolk County Council as the Host Authority for the Police and Crime Panel. Half yearly claims are made to the Home Office.

For the period 1 April 2017 to 30 September 2017 the administration costs were £29,769. In addition, member expenses, including employer National Insurance and Pension fund contributions and member training, totalling £3,215 were paid. Claims for the period are listed below:

• £2,568 Patricia O’Brien in respect of Chairman’s Special Responsibility Allowance

For the period 1 October 2017 to 31 March 2018 the administration costs were £27,838.95. In addition, member expenses, including employer National Insurance and Pension Fund Contributions, totalling £3,851 were paid. Claims for the period are listed below:

• £2,568 for Patricia O’Brien in respect of Chairman’s Special Responsibility Allowance
• £70 for Manwar Ali in respect of Attendance Allowance
• £802 for Len Jacklin in respect of Attendance Allowance and travel expenses

For the 2018/19 financial year, the Home Office has approved an annual grant of up to £65,260 to Suffolk County Council as the Host Authority for the Police and Crime Panel. Half yearly claims are made to the Home Office. For the period 1 April 2018 to 30 September 2018 the administration costs were £26,566. In addition, member expenses, including employer National Insurance and member training, totalling £3,563 were paid. Claims for the period are listed below:

• £2,568 Patricia O’Brien in respect of Chairman’s Special Responsibility Allowance
• £181 for Manwar Ali in respect of Attendance Allowance and travel expenses
• £650 for Len Jacklin in respect of Attendance Allowance and travel expenses

For the period 1 October 2018 to 31 March 2019 the administration costs were £29,875. In addition, member expenses, including employer National Insurance and member training, totalling £3553 were paid. Claims for the period are listed below:

• £2,568 for Patricia O’Brien in respect of Chairman’s Special Responsibility Allowance
• £272 for Stuart Palmer in respect of Attendance Allowance and travel expenses
• £504 for Len Jacklin in respect of Attendance Allowance and travel expenses

For the 2019/20 financial year, the Home Office has approved an annual grant of up to £65,260 to Suffolk County Council as the Host Authority for the Police and Crime Panel. Half yearly claims are made to the Home Office. For the period 1 April 2019 to 30 September 2019 the administration costs were £27,269. In addition, member expenses, including employer National Insurance and member training, totalling £3,921 were paid. Claims for the period are listed below:

• £2,568 Patricia O’Brien in respect of Chairman’s Special Responsibility Allowance
• £688 for Len Jacklin in respect of Attendance Allowance and travel expenses
• £503 for Stuart Palmer in respect of Attendance Allowance and travel expense

For the period 1 October 2019 to 31 March 2020 the administration costs were £29,243.   In addition, member expenditure including employer National Insurance and member training was £4745.  Claims for the period are listed below:

• £2,568 Patricia O’Brien in respect of Chairman’s Special Responsibility Allowance
• £538 for Len Jacklin in respect of Attendance Allowance and travel expenses
• £90 for Stuart Palmer in respect of Attendance Allowance and travel expenses

For the 2020/21 financial year, the Home Office approved an annual grant of up to £65,260 to Suffolk County Council as the Host Authority for the Police and Crime Panel.  Half yearly claims were made to the Home Office.   For the period 1 April 2020 to 30 September 2020 the administration costs were £26,098.  In addition, member expenditure, including employer National Insurance and member training was £2,908. Claims for the period are listed below:

• £2,568 Patricia O’Brien in respect of Chairman’s Special Responsibility Allowance
• £181 for Stuart Palmer in respect of Attendance Allowance and travel expenses

For the period 1 October 2020 to 31 March 2021 the administration costs were £27,730.   In addition, member expenditure including employer National Insurance and member training was £2,843.  Claims for the period are listed below:

• £124 Patricia O’Brien in respect of Chairman’s Special Responsibility Allowance
• £2457 Mark Jepson (replacing Patricia O’Brien) in respect of Chairman’s Special Responsibility Allowance
• £210 for Stuart Palmer in respect of Attendance Allowance and travel expenses

For the 2021/22 financial year, the Home Office approved an annual grant of up to £65,260 to Suffolk County Council as the Host Authority for the Police and Crime Panel.  Half yearly claims were made to the Home Office.   For the period 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021 the administration costs were £27,593.  In addition, member expenditure, including member training was £3,318.  Claims for the period are listed below:

• £2568 Mark Jepson in respect of Chairman’s Special Responsibility Allowance
• £280 for Stuart Palmer in respect of Attendance Allowance

For the period 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022 the administration costs were £27,127.   In addition, member expenditure including member training was £3,826.  Claims for the period are listed below:

• £2568 Mark Jepson in respect of Chairman’s Special Responsibility Allowance
• £41.40 for Stuart Palmer in respect of travel expenses
• £9.00 for Franstine Jones in respect of travel expenses
• £128.34 for James Finch in respect of travel expenses

For the 2022/23 financial year, the Home Office approved an annual grant of up to £65,260 to Suffolk County Council as the Host Authority for the Police and Crime Panel. Half yearly claims were made to the Home Office. For the period 1 April 2022 to 30 September 2022 the administration costs were £25,831.66. In addition, member expenditure, including member training was £2,773.85. Claims for the period are listed below:

• £2,568 Mark Jepson in respect of Chairman’s Special Responsibility Allowance
• £140 for Stuart Palmer in respect of Attendance Allowance
• £49.05 for Stuart Palmer in respect of travel expenses

For the period 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023 the administration costs were £30,624.26. In addition, member expenditure including member training was £4,090.20. Claims for the period are listed below:

• £2,568 Mark Jepson in respect of Chairman’s Special Responsibility Allowance
• £210 for Franstine Jones in respect of Attendance Allowance
• £420 for Andrew Stevenson in respect of Attendance Allowance
• £4.50 for Franstine Jones in respect of travel expenses
• £75.60 for Andrew Stevenson in respect of travel expenses

For the 2023/24 financial year, the Home Office approved an annual grant of up to £65,260 to Suffolk County Council as the Host Authority for the Police and Crime Panel. Half yearly claims were made to the Home Office. For the period 1 April 2023 to 30 September 2023 the administration costs were £25,432.86. In addition, member expenditure, including member training was £4733.06. Claims for the period are listed below:

• £1,366.84 for Mark Jepson in respect of Chairman’s Special Responsibility Allowance
• £1,104.52 for Sarah Mansel in respect of Chair's Special Responsibility Allowance.
• £51.70 for Andrew Stevenson in respect of travel expenses.