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| Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner | |
|---|---|
| Post | Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner |
| Body | Leicestershire |
| Formation | 22 November 2012 |
| Appointing | Electorate of Leicestershire |
| Termlength | Four years |
Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner is an elected official responsible for setting policing priorities, budgets, and strategic oversight for policing in Leicestershire and the unitary authorities of Leicester and Rutland. Created under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 as part of national reforms introduced by the Cameron ministry and implemented during the premiership of David Cameron, the office replaced the previous Leicestershire Police Authority and interacts with regional bodies such as the East Midlands structures and national institutions including the College of Policing and the Home Office.
The post was established in 2012 following the passage of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 during the Coalition government led by David Cameron and Nick Clegg. The introduction aligned with concurrent reforms affecting the Metropolitan Police Service, Greater Manchester Police, and other territorial forces, replacing police authorities like the Leicestershire Police Authority with directly elected commissioners as seen elsewhere including Essex Police and Crime Commissioner, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, and Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner. The inaugural election occurred in 2012 alongside other inaugural PCC contests contested by candidates from parties such as the Conservative Party, Labour Party, and Liberal Democrats, reflecting national debates involving figures like Theresa May and Sadiq Khan on policing accountability.
The commissioner sets the strategic policing plan and allocates the budget for Leicestershire Police, establishes the precept component of local taxation via the local government finance framework, and appoints or dismisses the Chief Constable. The office engages with stakeholders including Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council, Rutland County Council, community groups across areas like Hinckley and Melton Mowbray, and national agencies such as the National Crime Agency and the Crown Prosecution Service. In addition to commissioning community safety initiatives with partners such as the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in neighbouring counties, the role contributes to national platforms including coordination with the National Police Chiefs' Council and compliance with statutory duties under the Human Rights Act 1998.
Elections use the first-past-the-post system historically and, for some cycles, the supplementary vote system debated in Parliament alongside reforms promoted by MPs from constituencies including Harborough and Rutland and Melton. Candidates have represented parties such as the Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, and independents aligned with figures from local civic movements and organisations like Leicestershire County Cricket Club supporters and business groups in Leicester. The commissioner serves a four-year term with successive elections aligning with those for other commissioners such as in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, subject to by-elections in case of resignation or incapacity as seen in other jurisdictions including Cumbria.
Since creation in 2012, officeholders have included individuals nominated by national parties and local independents who interacted with organisations such as Leicester Tigers community programmes and charities working with Victim Support. Officeholders have engaged with national figures including Home Secretaries and regional leaders such as members of Parliament from constituencies like Leicester East and Leicester South. The post has seen contested elections involving candidates with backgrounds in local government, policing policy, and public sector leadership, comparable to officeholders in Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
Commissioners set priorities addressing issues such as rural crime in areas like Rutland Water, burglary in suburbs around Oadby, violent crime in urban centres like Leicester, and road safety on routes including the A46 road (England) and M1. Initiatives often align with national campaigns led by the College of Policing and National Crime Agency, collaborate with criminal justice partners like the Crown Prosecution Service and Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service, and fund local projects via grants to charities and community groups such as Victim Support and youth diversion schemes akin to those run with Sport England funding. Policy emphasis shifts with incumbents, reflecting political platforms consistent with positions in the Conservative Party or Labour Party at national level.
The commissioner is held to account by the Leicestershire Police and Crime Panel—a body formed under the 2011 Act consisting of councillors from Leicestershire County Council, Leicester City Council, and Rutland County Council—and is subject to scrutiny from Parliamentary committees such as the Home Affairs Select Committee. Decisions must comply with statutes including the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 and oversight mechanisms involve the Independent Office for Police Conduct for complaint handling and the National Audit Office for financial accountability. Civic scrutiny includes local media outlets like the Leicester Mercury and campaigning organisations including Liberty when civil liberties issues arise.
The office provides strategic direction to Leicestershire Police while operational independence of the Chief Constable is protected by law, mirroring the governance model used by forces such as the Metropolitan Police Service and West Yorkshire Police. Collaboration occurs through joint strategic meetings with senior officers, partnership working with organisations such as the National Crime Agency and regional emergency services including East Midlands Ambulance Service, and joint commissioning with local authorities for services addressing domestic violence and youth offending. Tensions between political accountability and operational independence have appeared in public debates similar to those involving commissioners in Greater Manchester and Merseyside.