Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner
| Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner | |
|---|---|
| Police and crime commissioner of Northumbria Police | |
| Reports to | Northumbria Police and Crime Panel |
| Appointer | Electorate of Northumbria |
| Term length | Four years |
| Constituting instrument | Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 |
| Precursor | Northumbria Police Authority |
| Inaugural holder | Vera Baird |
| Formation | November 2012 |
| Deputy | Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner |
| Salary | £85,000 |
The Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is an elected official. The post was created in November 2012 following the enactment of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. The PCC is tasked with the governance of the Northumbria Police force which includes the areas of six local authorities - Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland.
To accord with the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 PCCs must produce and work to a Police and Crime Plan; this Plan must be in step with UK Government Policy including, notably, Crime Prevention. Northumbria's PCC present Police and Crime Plan was first published in March 2013 and covers the period to 2018.
From the 1st April 2015 Police and Crime Commissioners were made responsible for providing key emotional and practical support services for victims of crime in their locality. Funding to support this is provided by the Ministry of Justice through an allocation based on a population formula. The Northumbria PCC determines awards across six local authority areas.
In March 2015 the PCC secured nearly £3m for the funding of projects aimed at supporting and protecting vulnerable members of society.
In collaboration with Durham Constabulary funding of £171,510 was secured in March 2016 to implement polygraph and lie detection testing for pre and post-conviction sexual offenders.
The PCC works closely with the six Community Safety Partnerships in the region. These Partnerships were set up under the Crime & Disorder Act of 1998 and are made up of representatives from the ‘responsible authorities’, which are the:
The PCC has shaped Northumbria's Community Trigger which gives victims and communities the right to demand that persistent antisocial behaviour is dealt with. The requirement of a Community Trigger is a provision of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
Following public consultations a Community Remedy was developed which provides a menu of local resolutions that victims of minor crime and ASB could request as a way of seeking justice outside of the formal criminal justice route.
In September 2014 the PCC established a South of Tyne Triage Team. The team consists of dedicated police officers working alongside mental health nurses who attend incidents involving people with mental health problems. The team provides additional support and diversion to appropriate health care services. Subsequent independent research has suggested that this approach has reduced the need for section 136 detentions under The Mental Act.
The Ministry of Justice devolves funding for victim support to the PCCs. In April 2015 the Northumbria PCC established and at present serves on the Board of Victims First Northumbria. Victims First has the declared vision ‘to create a Northumbria area where victims of crime feel confident to seek help and when they do, they are provided with a choice of high quality support tailored to meet their individual needs’.
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