Skip to content
Date updated: 1/05/2024

Appointment

Elected annually by the Members of the Police Authority Board for a term up to a maximum of four years (typically including a year if stepping down as Chair).

Overall Responsibilities

  • To assist and work with the Chair of the Police Authority Board to provide day-to-day leadership on behalf of the Police Authority Board in its work with the City of London Police.
  • To deputise for the Chair where appropriate.

Time Commitment

  • Attending 12 Police Authority Boards per year.
  • Attending Police Authority Board (sub) Committees as appropriate.
  • Monthly meetings with the Commissioner and Police Authority Chief Executive.

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 Deputy Chair has the following responsibilities:

  • to assist the Chair of the Police Authority Board in providing 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 assist the Chair of the Police Authority Board with their key responsibilities, including:
  1. to hold the Police Commissioner to account on a day-to-day basis, ensuring the Force is accountable to the communities they serve;
  2. 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;
  3. 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 develop a particular interest in key areas of the Force’s activities, including neighbourhood policing and road safety (and casualty reduction), working closely with relevant officers in the Force, Police Authority and City Corporation to identify opportunities for collaboration and partnership working;
  • to deputise for the Chair in their absence from Police Authority Board meetings and, where necessary, to carry out the requirements of their role profile during a period of sustained absence;
  • to carry out any other duties considered necessary to support the work of the Police Authority Board in accordance with its terms of reference.

Related links