Largest shake-up for 50 years awaits police authority

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has said this week it was satisfied that the authority had a good plan in place for the transition to a Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) in November.
Police Authorities in England and Wales will be scrapped and a US-style police and crime commissioners will be elected by the public to oversee the hiring and firing of chief constables from May 2012
HMIC said that the planning arrangements in place were sound and that strong project management had been established to oversee the transition.
The Authority will be abolished on November 22 but will continue to oversee the performance of the Force up to that date.
On November 15 for the first time ever a ballot will take place to elect the role for each force area in England and Wales outside London.
he Commissioner for Thames Valley will be accountable for how crime is tackled in the force area and “give a voice to the public”, according to the Home Office, which is championing the roles.
There will also be a police and crime panel to help oversee the work of the commissioner and hold them to account, made up of local councillors and two independent members of the public.
The panel will provide an independent challenge and support the commissioner in their role and promote openness in the transaction of police business.
West Berkshire’s Conservative party has nominated the West Berkshire Council executive member for community safety Anthony Stansfeld (Kintbury) to stand for the role in Thames Valley.
He is facing off against barrister Tim Starkey, a Labour politician who jumped ship from the Liberal Democrats in 2010 following formation of the Coalition Government.