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| Kent and Medway Police and Crime Commissioner | |
|---|---|
| Post | Police and Crime Commissioner |
| Body | Kent and Medway |
| Incumbent | Matthew Scott |
| Incumbentsince | 12 May 2016 |
| Formation | 22 November 2012 |
| Inaugural | Ann Barnes |
| Deputy | Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner |
| Salary | £86,700 |
| Website | Kent and Medway PCC |
Kent and Medway Police and Crime Commissioner
The Kent and Medway Police and Crime Commissioner is an elected official responsible for setting strategic priorities for Kent Police, overseeing budgets, and holding senior police leadership to account within the ceremonial county of Kent and the unitary authority of Medway. The office was created as part of national police reform initiated by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, replacing police authorities such as the Kent Police Authority and aligning local policing scrutiny with directly elected representatives. Commissioners engage with bodies including the Home Office, the National Police Chiefs' Council, and the College of Policing to influence operational oversight, crime reduction strategies, and partnership working with agencies like the Kent County Council and the Medway Council.
The post was established after legislative change triggered by the 2010 United Kingdom general election and subsequent coalition policy commitments, formalised by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 and implemented for local elections in 2012. The inaugural holder, Ann Barnes, previously served as a police authority chair and stood amid debates involving national figures such as Theresa May and Nick Clegg over accountability reforms. Early years saw controversies tied to predecessors of the current office, intersecting with events involving the Independent Police Complaints Commission and high-profile incidents in Canterbury and Maidstone. Subsequent commissioners, including Giles York predecessors in other forces, shaped commissioning approaches through partnerships with the Crown Prosecution Service, the National Crime Agency, and local criminal justice boards.
The commissioner's statutory duties derive from the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 and include producing a Police and Crime Plan, setting the precept element of council tax for policing, and appointing or dismissing the Chief Constable of Kent Police. The office liaises with national institutions such as the Home Office, the National Audit Office, and the Crown Prosecution Service to align funding, performance metrics, and legal compliance. Commissioners commission victim services, work with agencies like the Victim Support charity, and coordinate with health partners exemplified by the NHS England regional teams on issues like mental health responses and safeguarding. The role interacts with regional collaborations including the Kent Resilience Forum, the South East Counter Terrorism Unit, and cross-border initiatives involving Essex Police and Sussex Police.
Elections for the post follow the timetable set by the Electoral Commission and use voting arrangements influenced by debates around turnout observed in the 2012 United Kingdom local elections, 2016 United Kingdom local elections, and 2021 United Kingdom local elections. Candidates frequently represent national parties such as the Conservative Party (UK), the Labour Party (UK), the Liberal Democrats (UK), and occasionally independents endorsed by groups like The Green Party (UK). Political scrutiny comes from the Kent Police and Crime Panel, composed of councillors from Kent County Council and Medway Council and co-opted independent members, which examines draft budgets, plans, and senior appointments. Oversight mechanisms also include audit scrutiny by the Local Government Association and compliance checks by the National Audit Office.
- Ann Barnes — inaugural commissioner following the 2012 United Kingdom local elections, with a background in police authority leadership and local activism in Dartford and Thanet. - Subsequent holders have included representatives from major parties and independents who engaged with national debates involving figures like Sadiq Khan and Priti Patel on policing priorities. - Matthew Scott — incumbent since 12 May 2016, associated with the Conservative Party (UK), re-elected amid policy emphasis on counterterrorism coordination with the South East Counter Terrorism Unit and crime reduction strategies involving partnerships with Kent County Council and the Crown Prosecution Service.
Governance structures place the commissioner within a network of statutory and non-statutory bodies. The Police and Crime Panel, formed under provisions in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, scrutinises the commissioner's draft Police and Crime Plan and can veto a proposed precept increase by a two-thirds majority. Financial governance involves external audit by firms appointed under guidance from the National Audit Office and grant arrangements with the Home Office including allocations for national initiatives such as the Victims' Fund and counterterrorism grants administered in coordination with the National Police Chiefs' Council. The commissioner must publish annual reports and accounts, subject to local media scrutiny by outlets including the BBC regional services and national newspapers such as the The Times and The Guardian.
The office has attracted criticism mirroring national debates over police accountability introduced after the 2010 United Kingdom general election, including concerns aired by organisations like Liberty and the Institute for Public Policy Research about politicisation of policing. Local controversies have involved disputes over budget cuts affecting community policing in towns such as Rochester and Dover, conflicts over the handling of high-profile investigations that drew attention from the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and public disagreements with local councils including Medway Council over funding allocations. Allegations relating to transparency, use of commissioning funds, and decisions on senior appointments have periodically led to inquiries and media coverage, prompting responses involving the Home Office and parliamentary questions in the House of Commons.
Category:Police and crime commissioners in England Category:Law enforcement in Kent