Police and crime commissioners

On 15 November 2012, for the first time ever, the public across England and Wales will elect a police and crime commissioner who will be accountable for how crime is tackled in their police force areas.

The role of the Police and crime commissioner

Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) will aim to cut crime and deliver an effective and efficient police service within their force area.

To provide stronger and more transparent accountability of the police, PCCs will be elected by the public to hold chief constables and the force to account; effectively making the police answerable to the communities they serve.

Police and crime commissioners will ensure community needs are met as effectively as possible, and will improve local relationships through building confidence and restoring trust. They will also work in partnership across a range of agencies at local and national level to ensure there is a unified approach to preventing and reducing crime.

PCCs will not be expected to run the police. The role of the PCC is to be the voice of the people and hold the police to account. 

You can find out more about what it means to be a PCC in an information booklet about Police and crime commissioners which explains key information about the role and who is eligible.

More detailed information on PCC powers and responsibilities is also available.

Voting in the first Police and crime commissioners elections

The first PCC elections will take place on 15 November 2012 to elect a PCC for each police force area in England and Wales outside London.

Everyone registered to vote in the police force area will be able to vote, including British, EU and Commonwealth citizens living in the UK.

More detailed information on voting and candidate requirements.

More about Police and crime commissioners

More background information on PCCs their work, how they will achieve their aims, and other questions are answered in the further information section.

Information booklet: Have you got what it takes? - for anyone wanting to know more about what it means to be a police and crime commissioner.

Information booklet: What partners need to know - information for partners on the changes to expect and how they should work with PCCs.

Shadow strategic policing requirement - sets out the Home Secretary's view of the national threats that the police must address and the appropriate national policing capabilities required to counter those threats.

The Policing Protocol sets out how the new policing governance arrangements will work. It clarifies the role and responsibilities of PCCs, the mayor’s office for policing and crime, chief constables, police and crime panels and the London Assembly police and crime panel. It outlines what these bodies are expected to do and how they are expected to work together to fight crime and improve policing.

You can keep up to date with the latest news and find out what opportunities are available for partners to get involved locally by downloading the police and crime commissioners update bulletin.