Review aims to ‘unlock full potential' of PCC role

He said the second part of the Government’s two-stage review will examine further ways to strengthen and expand the role of PCCs with a focus on “the tools and levers they need to enhance efforts to cut crime”.

Part two of the review was included in the Government’s new ‘Beating Crime Plan’ announced this week.

In particular, Mr Malthouse said the Government will work alongside the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Probation Service to examine the role of PCCs in offender management aligned to existing operating models.

It will also consider the role of PCCs in the partnership landscape and assess whether “their current set of tools and levers are sufficient to drive and coordinate local activity to reduce crime, combat drugs misuse and tackle anti-social behaviour”.

“The Review will focus on Local Criminal Justice Boards, Community Safety Partnerships and Violence Reduction Units,” said Mr Malthouse in his letter.

“As previously announced during part one, we will also bring forward a stakeholder consultation on giving a general power of competence to PCCs, as afforded to local authorities.”

Marc Jones, chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), said: “The Government’s commitment to continue to develop the PCC role is testament to what we have achieved to date. We want to build on this – above all to cut crime, support victims and keep our communities safe.”

He added: “PCCs have engaged constructively with the review throughout, and it has provided an important opportunity to build on the learning and developments since the role was created nine years ago.

“We are already working closely with government and policing partners in delivering on the recommendations of part one of the review, and today we welcome the start of the second phase of the process of unlocking the full potential of the PCC role, with a strong focus on developing our role across criminal justice, reducing reoffending, anti-social behaviour (ASB) and prevention.

The first stage of the review, which concluded last October, made recommendations to the Home Secretary on how to improve the accountability, scrutiny and transparency of the current PCC model. It also mapped out the Government’s longer-term reform ambitions in relation to fire and rescue services and mayoral devolution in England.

Mr Malthouse said: “Alongside expanding the role of PCCs, we must also continue to build on the work carried out in part one of the review, ensuring there are effective local scrutiny mechanisms in place and that [PCCs] continue to be accountable to the communities they serve.”

Therefore, Mr Malthouse said they will:

• Assess the Police and Crime Panel Model – specifically the potential benefits of independent members, identifying and securing the right skill sets and options to strengthen panel support;
• Consider whether the existing mechanisms for investigating complaints and allegations against PCCs are sufficient and examine the role of the Indepenent Office for Police Conduct in assessing criminal wrongdoings by PCCs and the issue of vexatious complaints;
• Work with the Cabinet Office and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to consider the merits and demerits of introducing recall for PCCs for very serious breaches of behaviour, including what might be a suitable trigger mechanism; and
• Examine how PCCs use data in holding chief constables to account for the efficient and effective delivery of policing services in their respective areas, including how data is fed into centrally-held databases and is utilised by the Home Office and relevant policing partners to reduce crime.

Mr Malthouse added that as part of its work on the upcoming Victims’ Bill, the MoJ is considering the role of PCCs in enforcing victims’ right and commissioning support services.

“This PCC review therefore will not examine these issues, but the review team will work together closely with the MoJ to share any relevant information and ensure that the work is complementary and aligned,” he said.

The review applies to all PCCs, including police and fire commissioners and mayors exercising PCC functions, but does not extend to wider mayoral functions.

As with part one, an advisory group will guide the work, comprising senior external stakeholders with expertise in the policing and justice sector.

Mr Jones said the APCC will be developing a “compelling response” to the review, bringing together the views and experiences of PCCs alongside case studies from local partners and communities, to show how they can work more effectively to tackle some of the “critical issues” that the public say impact on them most.

He said: “We believe that with the right levers, PCCs could play a leading role in improving the criminal justice journey for victims and witnesses and ensuring fewer offenders reoffend.

“Whilst PCCs are known for their work around policing, their role in wider criminal justice, reducing reoffending and prevention is less known – yet equally critical in keeping our communities safe. Currently, cases take too long to get to court. Justice delayed is justice denied for victims of crime. PCCs chair their local criminal justice boards. We want to see these boards strengthened to be able to deliver more improvements locally so that more people have confidence in local criminal justice services.”

Mr Jones added: “We welcome the inclusion of ASB in the review. This is a key priority for PCCs, and we know that much more needs to be done to support victims of ASB and stop ASB from happening in the first place. We want to work more effectively with local partners and to use the full range of tools and powers available to us to tackle ASB and also drug misuse – and where we need more powers, we will make the case to government.

“PCCs would welcome a strengthened role in commissioning local reducing reoffending services, working alongside probation, local authority, and wider partners to help break the cycle of reoffending.”