Supporting national policing

Back to Further information about Police and crime commissioners As well as responding to local priorities a PCC will also need to help contribute to threats which require a national policing response. This will include work on counter terrorism and organised crime. It is vital that the PCC works with other forces on national policing issues through collaboration.

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• What powers will the Home Secretary retain?

  The Home Secretary will retain her powers to:

  • mandate or terminate collaborations between forces and/or between PCCs
  • mandate mutual aid agreements to meet special demand on resources (e.g. Olympics)
  • alter police force areas
  • prescribe that certain goods, services and equipment are procured under specific arrangements (e.g. nationally)
  • give direction to forces and PCCs in cases of failure

  The Home Secretary will be able to receive crime data and information from a chief constable and will have the power to issue a strategic policing requirement, to which the PCC and chief constable must have regard. It will set out the policing capabilities required nationally to which local forces would be expected to contribute, and critical standards of interoperability that they should follow.

  The Home Secretary will retain the ability to intervene where force budgets are set too low and public safety is put at risk, and can extend the responsibility to enter into agreements over national and international policing responsibilities with every force in England and Wales.

  The Home Secretary will be able to direct the PCC if the standards set out for national/international functions are not met - regardless if there is an agreement or not. The Home Secretary will also be able to specify some functions that all forces must perform through collaboration with other forces or other bodies.