Interested in being a candidate?

Please read the briefing pack the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has prepared for potential candidates.

To read more about election guidance for PCCs, including qualifications for standing as a candidate, please visit the Electoral Commission.

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioner’s (APCC) has created an elections page that includes a which offers guidance, advice and information for anyone interested in standing as a candidate. 

On 16 March 2021, the Home Secretary laid a Written Ministerial Statement in Parliament, setting out the findings from Part 1 of the Review of the Role of Police and Crime Commissioners.

Part 1 of the Review launched on 22 July and sought to identify areas where the model can be sharpened, where possible, ahead of the PCC elections in May this year. Part One concluded in October and made recommendations to the Home Secretary on how to improve the accountability, scrutiny and transparency of the current PCC model. Part 1 also considered the role that PCCs play in fire governance and its links to mayoral devolution.

The key points to note are:

• A First Past the Post voting system will be introduced, when primary legislation allows
• The Home Office will require all PCCs to provide a narrative on force performance against the Government’s crime measures, and HMICFRS reports. The incumbent PCC undertakes significant personal and public scrutiny of policing performance and is represented on the Constabulary’s Force Performance Group
• The Home Office will work with the College of Policing, APCC, and NPCC to build on the existing Accountability Guidance
• PCCs must develop formal succession plans, prior to legislation which will mandate the appointment of a Deputy PCC
• The Home Office will consult on potential changes to the Policing Protocol Order 2011 to clarify the boundaries of operational independence
• Section 38 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 will be amended to make Chief Constable dismissal processes more rigorous and transparent
• Through a White Paper on fire reform, Home Office will consult on whether to mandate the transfer of fire and rescue functions to the PFCC model across England. The incumbent PCC previously considered a feasibility study on this and has had the opportunity to sit on the combined Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police Authority

Part 2 of the Review will consider:

• The role of the IOPC in handling complaints about PCCs and Deputies
• Giving all PCCs a General Power of Competence
• Longer-term reforms and wider efficiencies to cut crime

On Tuesday 12 January 2021 there was a candidate information day, featuring speakers from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and Hampshire Constabulary

The morning session (9.30am-12.30pm) was hosted by the Chief Executive of the Office and Police and Crime Commissioner and outlined the responsibilities of a PCC and the role of the Office in supporting a PCC.

View the presentation slides from the morning session.
Questions and answers from the morning session.

The afternoon session (commenced at 1.30pm) was delivered by Hampshire Constabulary, giving potential candidates an opportunity to hear from the Chief Constable from an operational policing perspective.

View the presentation slides from the afternoon session.
Questions and answers from the afternoon session.

As it was a live session, there was also an opportunity to ask questions. All live sessions were recorded and are published online as part of our obligations to ensure fair and transparent interaction between candidates and the office.  The questions and answer sessions are transcribed only, as part of the OPCC’s responsibility to remaining impartial.

Please see videos which introduce services commissioned by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

While wishing to provide candidates with the information they need to develop their manifestos and to answer any questions they have about the role, all OPCC and Hampshire Constabulary personnel should ensure they remain impartial.

In light of this a protocol for the interaction with candidates has been developed  to provide guidance to staff from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and Hampshire Constabulary concerning their conduct and their contact with candidates during the election campaigns.

Information has been made available for candidates by Hampshire Police Federation, the Superintendents Association and Unison.

The National Crime Agency NCA now have in place a PCC Candidate Briefing page on their website which you can access.

The PARO has also published information about the election for candidates and agents, including their own briefings.

The Hampshire Police and Crime Panel (PCP) is responsible for scrutinising and supporting the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

The PCP is made up of representatives from each of the local authorities in the Hampshire Police area. This includes the unitary authorities of Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight, the 11 Hampshire Borough and District councils and Hampshire County Council. To better meet the balanced appointment objective, three additional local authority members have been co-opted to the PCP following agreement from the Home Secretary. Two non-political members of the Panel are also co-opted to add to the collective spread of experience and knowledge, bringing the total membership to 20.

The current Chairman of the Panel is Cllr Dave Stewart (Isle of Wight Council), with Councillor Jan Warwick (Hampshire County Council) as Vice Chairman. The current Membership of the Hampshire Police and Crime Panel can be viewed online Hampshire Police and Crime Panel – Committee details

The Panel meets formally around four times per year and examines and makes recommendations on various aspects of the PCC’s activity. In particular the Panel’s powers include:

• reviewing the draft Police and Crime Plan
• reviewing (and having the power to veto) the PCC’s proposed Council Tax precept levels
• reviewing and scrutinising decisions and actions by the PCC
• scrutinising the PCC’s annual report
• confirming (and having the power to veto) the Chief Constable’s appointment
• confirming senior officer (Chief Executive, Chief Financial Officer) and political roles (Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner) in the PCC’s office
• reviewing the PCC’s conduct
• to appoint an acting PCC, if required

Minutes of previous meetings of the Panel can be viewed online, accompanied by recordings of meetings held between July 2020 and March 2021 Hampshire Police and Crime Panel – Meetings

Working groups

The Panel has appointed a number of working groups to provide greater focus on particular areas. Meetings of these working groups are held quarterly and regularly attended by officers of the OPCC.  The Panel currently have three working Groups: Equality and Diversity Working Group, Finance Working Group and Plan Working Group. Additionally, responsibility for determining complaints has been delegated to a Complaints Sub-Committee which meets on an ad-hoc basis, when required.

Proactive Scrutiny

In 2014 the Hampshire Police and Crime Panel agreed to introduce proactive scrutiny sessions to their work programme enabling them to build on their statutory functions by scrutinising core elements of the Police and Crime Plan. The scrutiny topics chosen by the Panel originate from key areas of focus within the Police and Crime Plan, as well as topics of public interest or newly emerging threats.

For each review, the Panel seeks the views of a wide range of stakeholders, including criminal justice partners, statutory bodies, voluntary sector organisations and members of the public. From the evidence received recommendations are drawn and submitted to the Commissioner, to support the objectives of the Police and Crime Plan and enhance the safety and wellbeing of the residents of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Topics previously reviewed by the Panel and outcomes from the reviews can be viewed on the Panel’s website at Hampshire Police and Crime Panel – Proactive Scrutiny

Governance

Rules of procedure

The rules of procedure are made by the Hampshire Police and Crime Panel in accordance with relevant statutory legislation and the Panel is conducted in accordance with these Rules. The Rules may have to be reviewed from time to time on the coming into force of any relevant secondary legislation and/or statutory guidance.

Joint protocol

This protocol concerns the relationship between the Hampshire Police and Crime Panel and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire. The protocol aims to provide clarity of role and expectations of the Panel and the Commissioner for the benefit of all involved in the process of policing and crime accountability.