Birmingham City Council

West Midlands Police and Crime Panel

Follow the West Midlands Police and Crime Panel on Twitter@westmidspcpor use #wmidspcp

Next Panel Meeting - 2pm Monday 24 June 2013

The Council Chamber, Wolverhampton Civic Centre, St Peter's Square, Wolverhampton WV1 1SH

Key topics at this meeting will include:

  • Considering how the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is working with partners to improve safety on public transport
  • Discussing Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) powers and smarter ways of working with Councils
  • Reviewing the Police and Crime Commissioner's Annual Report

Public Questions at Panel Meetings

Each meeting has space for public questions for the Panel. Questions must be submitted in advance in writing and you'll be asked to attend the meeting personally to put the question. We will generally aim to answer questions at the meeting.

Questions for our next meeting must be submitted by 19 June 2013. Please refer to the Public Question Criteria document at the bottom of this page.

In summary, questions
a) must relate to the Panel's roles and responsibilities;
b) must not be substantially the same question put to the meeting in the past 6 months;
c) must not be defamatory, frivolous, vexatious or offensive;
d) must not require the disclosure of confidential or exempt information;
e) must not refer to any matter of a personal nature.

Please send your question to wmpcp@birmingham.gov.uk

or write to: The Panel, Scrutiny Office, Council House, Birmingham, B1 1BB.

Meeting Dates and Papers

The Panel meets around 6 times a year. Meetings are open to the public to attend and observe. Click on the meeting date to download available papers.

24 June 2013 - Papers will be available here a week before meeting

18 March 2013 - Including Panel consideration of the Draft Police and Crime Plan

6 February 2013 - Including Panel consideration of the Precept.

21 January 2013 - Including the PCC's preliminary budget proposals, arrangements for public questions at meetings and Member expenses scheme.

26 November 2012 - Including Confirmation Hearing for the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.

29 October 2012 - Including appointment of Independent Panel Members, complaints procedure and draft working protocol between Panel and PCC.

20 July 2012 (Shadow Panel)

Role and Responsibilities of the West Midlands Police and Crime Panel

The West Midlands Police and Crime Panel was established under the new governance structures for the police. Bob Jones was elected as Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the West Midlands on 15 November 2012.

The PCC is responsible for deciding the priorities and budget for West Midlands Police, as well as supporting broader community safety activities across the region.

The Panel has a dual role to both scrutinise and support the PCC. It acts as a critical friend – assisting him through independent challenge.

The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 requires the Panel to undertake a number of tasks:

  • Reviewing the draft Police and Crime Plan to ensure local priorities have been considered
  • Scrutinising the Commissioner’s Annual Report
  • Scrutinising the decisions and actions of the Commissioner
  • Reviewing, and potentially vetoing, the Commissioner’s proposed policing precept (the money collected from Council Tax for policing)
  • Holding confirmation hearings for the proposed appointment of a Chief Constable, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner and senior support staff
  • Consideration of non-criminal complaints against the PCC or his Deputy

For more information about how the West Midlands Police and Crime Panel operates read the Panel Arrangements and Rules of Procedure documents.

One of the other ways the Panel supports the PCC is to provide advice prior to decisions being made.

Who sits on the West Midlands Police and Crime Panel?

The Panel is made up of twelve local councillors from Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton. Two independent members were appointed to the Panel through an open application process and interview by a cross-party selection panel.

Each councillor member has a named substitute in case they can't attend a meeting.

Councillor Darren Cooper, Leader of Sandwell MBC chairs the Panel. Councillor Jess Phillips, Victims Champion at Birmingham City Council is vice-chair.

View the list of Panel members.

Contact the Panel

You can contact the West Midlands Police and Crime Panel via email wmpcp@birmingham.gov.uk

You can also follow us on Twitter @westmidspcp

More information

More information about Police and Crime Panels is available from the Home Office website http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/police/police-crime-commissioners/partners/police-and-crime-panels/

Also visit the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner's website www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk.

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