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| Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Police and Crime Commissioner | |
|---|---|
| Name | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Police and Crime Commissioner |
| Formation | 2012 |
| Jurisdiction | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough |
| Headquarters | Huntingdon |
| Chief1 name | Hunt, Darryl |
| Chief1 position | Police and Crime Commissioner |
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Police and Crime Commissioner
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Police and Crime Commissioner is an elected official responsible for setting strategic priorities for policing in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, overseeing the Cambridgeshire Constabulary and holding its chief constable to account. Established amid reforms introduced by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 and first contested after the 2012 elections, the role interacts with regional bodies including Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and national institutions such as the Home Office and College of Policing.
The office originated from legislation passed as part of the Coalition government reforms led by Theresa May and framed by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. The first elections in 2012 mirrored contests held for other commissioners such as in Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire, replacing the former police authorities model exemplified by bodies in Essex and Norfolk. Subsequent electoral cycles occurred alongside the 2016 elections and the 2021 elections, reflecting national debates involving figures like John Prescott and institutions including the Local Government Association. The evolution of the office has paralleled reforms debated in the House of Commons and adjudicated in cases before the High Court of Justice.
The commissioner sets the police and crime plan, allocates the budget to the Cambridgeshire Constabulary, and appoints or dismisses the chief constable, liaising with agencies such as NHS England, Cambridgeshire County Council, and Peterborough City Council. Responsibilities include commissioning victim services from providers like Victim Support and coordinating with national programmes administered by the Ministry of Justice and the Crown Prosecution Service. Statutory duties derive from the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 and are subject to oversight by the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Panel, mirroring oversight arrangements seen in panels for Surrey and Hertfordshire. The commissioner also represents local policing interests to the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners and international partners such as agencies in European Union member states prior to the Brexit referendum.
Elections use the supplementary vote system legislated alongside the 2011 Act, similar to contests in Merseyside and West Midlands. Candidates have represented major parties including the Conservative Party, Labour Party, and Liberal Democrats, as well as independents and smaller parties such as UK Independence Party and Green Party. Governance is exercised through a locally convened Police and Crime Panel composed of councillors from authorities like Fenland District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, with scrutiny comparable to panels in Lancashire and Camden. Financial governance interacts with the Office for National Statistics for demographic data and the National Audit Office for expenditure review.
Notable holders have included party-affiliated and independent figures reflecting national patterns similar to commissioners in Surrey and Northumbria. Office holders work with chief constables, including predecessors in the Cambridgeshire Constabulary, and coordinate with regional leaders such as the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough where applicable. Changes in incumbency have occasionally paralleled national political shifts seen after elections involving leaders like Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer.
Commissioners have pursued initiatives addressing rural crime in areas like the Fens and urban crime in Peterborough drawing on partnerships with National Farmers' Union and community groups such as Citizens Advice. Programmes have included investment in technology procured through suppliers akin to those used by Metropolitan Police Service, development of victim support services in tandem with NHS England mental health pathways, and crime prevention projects modeled on initiatives from Wiltshire Police and Norfolk Constabulary. Commissioners have set priorities on issues ranging from serious organised crime implicated in reports by the National Crime Agency to domestic abuse interventions reflecting guidance from the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
Oversight occurs via the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Panel, scrutiny from local authorities including Peterborough City Council, and national review by the Home Secretary and the National Audit Office. Judicial review can be sought through the High Court of Justice and complaints investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The commissioner is also accountable to electorates in constituencies such as South Cambridgeshire and North West Cambridgeshire.
Critiques mirror national debates about the commissioner model debated by commentators in outlets covering the Localism Act 2011 era and challenged in cases before the Court of Appeal (England and Wales). Controversies have included disputes over procurement and budgetary decisions similar to issues reported in West Yorkshire Police and questions about politicisation raised in discussions involving the Electoral Commission and party activists. Allegations of insufficient transparency have prompted scrutiny by panels and civil society organisations such as Liberty and Transparency International.