Police Authority Board Chair role

Date updated: 28/06/2024

Appointment

Elected annually by the Members of the Police Authority Board for a term up to a maximum of four years.

Overall Responsibilities

To provide day-to-day leadership on behalf of the Police Authority Board in its work with the City of London
To be the key spokesperson for the Police Authority on matters relating policing and
To chair the Police Authority Board.

Time Commitment

Chairing 12 Police Authority Boards per year.
Attending Police Authority Board (sub) Committees as appropriate.
Ex-officio Member of Policy & Resources Committee.
Regular meetings with Commissioner and Police Authority Chief Executive.
Undertaking a regular engagement programme with the Force and key stakeholders on behalf of the Police Authority Board.

Background

The role of the City of London Police Authority is to provide scrutiny and challenge to the work of the City of London Police (CoLP). In discharging more than 60 statutory duties, the Police Authority must ensure that CoLP delivers efficient and effective policing for the public within a sustainable medium- term financial plan (MTFP), and hold the City of London Police Commissioner to account for the delivery of policing within the Square Mile and in its capacity as the national lead force for economic crime as set out in the Policing Plan.

The City is exceptional in retaining a police authority in the form of the Court of Common Council, acting through the City of London Police Authority Board to which the Common Council has delegated its general functions. The Police Authority Board provides a directly elected scrutiny body mirroring the model deployed for Police & Crime Commissioners (PCCs). In fulfilling its role, the Police Authority Board must be mindful of public confidence in policing, ensure the Force provides value for money, and that the needs of local communities are met as effectively as possible by CoLP.

Key Responsibilities

On behalf of the Police Authority Board, the Chair has the following responsibilities:

to provide political leadership to the Force on behalf of the Police Authority, including day- to-day oversight of the Force’s strategic priorities as set out in the Policing Plan;
to be responsible for the totality of policing in the City of London;
to hold the Police Commissioner to account, ensuring the Force is accountable to the communities they serve;
to ensure the Police Authority Board discharges its responsibilities for monitoring and challenging crime performance, the efficiency and effectiveness of the Force, and the provision of value for money;
to ensure that our local communities needs are identified, considered and met as effectively as possible by facilitating and enhancing relationships between the Force and its local stakeholders;
to work in partnership with a range of agencies at a local and national level, ensuring there is a unified approach to preventing and reducing crime in the City of London;
to bring together community safety and criminal justice partners to make sure local priorities are coordinated to support the Force;
to act as the key spokesperson for the City of London Corporation in its capacity as the Police Authority for the City of London, helping to raise the profile of the City’s contribution in preventing and tackling crime;
to act as the Police Authority’s principal point of contact at a local, regional and national level in matters relating to policing and crime, particularly the Home Office, HMICFRS, Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC);
to represent the Police Authority Board at APCC meetings and, subject to nomination, to act as a portfolio holder or as a member of the APCC Board;
to chair the appointment panel for the post of Commissioner on behalf of the Court of Common Council;
to contribute to the annual performance development review of the Police Commissioner;
to uphold and promulgate the Police Authority Board’s policy statements, including on financial assurance and diversity and
to lead otherwise the work of the Police Authority Board and make sure it carries out its business according to its terms of reference.