Introduction
The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 introduced significant changes in police governance and accountability, in particular replacing the Police Authorities with directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (Commissioners).
The Act also requires the local authorities in each police force area to establish a police and crime panel (panel), as a joint committee, primarily to scrutinise the commissioner. The Act also prescribes many of the arrangements with regard to the panel and the way in which it conducts its business.
Peterborough City Council is the host authority for the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Panel. The Panel’s membership and procedures, as well as its terms of reference, can be viewed on the Peterborough City Council website.
Terms of Reference
1) To review and make a report or recommendation on the draft police and crime plan, or draft variation, given to the panel by the Police and Crime Commissioner.
2) To review, put questions to the Police and Crime Commissioner at a public meeting, and make a report or recommendation (as necessary) on the annual report.
3) To hold a confirmation hearing and review, make a report, and recommendation (as necessary) in respect of proposed senior appointments made by the Police and Crime Commissioner.
4) To review and make a report on the proposed appointment of the Chief Constable.
5) To review and make a report and recommendation (as necessary) on the proposed precept.
6) To review or scrutinise decisions made, or other action taken, by the Police and Crime Commissioner in connection with the discharge of the commissioner’s functions.
7) To make reports or recommendations to the Police and Crime Commissioner with respect to the discharge of the commissioner’s functions.
8) To support the effective exercise of the functions of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
9) To fulfil functions in relation to complaints about conduct matters, in accordance with the responsibilities accorded to the panel by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.
10) To appoint an Acting Police and Crime Commissioner if necessary.
11) To suspend the Police and Crime Commissioner if it appears to the panel that the Commissioner has been charged in the United Kingdom or Isle of Man with an offence which carries a maximum term of imprisonment exceeding two years.
[Chapter E4 (Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Panel) was last amended on 11 February 2025]
A PDF version of this chapter is available to view or download on the CMIS section of the Council’s website, along with a PDF version of the full constitution.
