Commissioner role will shake-up the force (From Western Telegraph)

Commissioner role will shake-up the force

11:10am Sunday 21st October 2012 in County News

The biggest shake up in the way police forces are governed for a generation will be underway in less than a month, with elections for the first ever Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) on November 15th.

People in Pembrokeshire will be able to vote for the Dyfed-Powys PCC.

There will be four elected PCCs in Wales – one for each of the forces. The two candidates currently running in Dyfed-Powys are Christine Gwyther for Labour and Christopher Salmon for the Conservatives.

PCCs will take up office on November 22nd and will scrutinise the work of the police on behalf of the public.

Commissioners will replace police authorities and will be responsible for determining police budgets, deciding on local policing priorities and commissioning community safety services, among other duties.

Dyfed-Powys Police Authority is working to ensure the change to a commissioner runs as smoothly as possible.

Police authority member Malcolm Lewis said: “We are all working towards achieving a smooth transition from our current position to that of an elected commissioner.

“Our role is to ensure that the good work the authority has undertaken in holding the force accountable, in respect of maintaining its high standard of performance, is carried forward to safeguard policing in Pembrokeshire,” he added.

For more information on PCCs, go to www.dyfed powyspoliceauthority.co.uk and the Dyfed Powys Police returning officer’s website bit.ly/cZ5C6F.