Role of the PCC
The role of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is to be the voice of local people in policing and to hold the Chief Constable to account. The aim of all PCCs is to ensure the delivery of an effective and efficient police service within their force area.
PCCs are responsible for the ‘totality of policing’ (all of policing, not just some parts of it) but it is important that they enable the police service and Chief Constable to operate independently.
PCCs will ensure that the police meet the communities needs effectively. They work in partnership with a range of agencies at local and national level to ensure there is a unified approach to preventing and reducing crime.
By law (the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011), PCCs must do certain things including:
- Secure an efficient and effective police service for their area
- Appoint the Chief Constable, hold them to account for running the force and, if necessary, dismiss them
- Set the police and crime objectives for their area through the Police and Crime Plan
- Set the force budget and determine the precept (the policing aspect of the council tax budget)
- Contribute to national and international policing capabilities set out by the Home Secretary
- Bring together community safety and criminal justice partners to make sure local priorities are joined up
Find out more the role of the PCC and how the PCC supports communities.
Watch the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ video about the role of a PCC:
Is the OPCC different to the police?
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and Avon and Somerset Police are two separate organisations.
The PCC and Chief Constable, as heads of both organisations, work together to deliver an efficient and effective police service. The table below lists the main differences between the two roles:
| Chief Constable | PCC |
|---|---|
| Must deliver an effective police force and has direct control over the force, its officers, and staff | Makes sure that your views/needs inform how our police service operates |
| Leads and makes decisions on all aspects of operational policing | Sets the police’s priorities and decides how much money the police force will be given each year to operate |
| Is the most senior police officer in Avon and Somerset Police | Acts on behalf of the electorate to ensure the Chief Constable is delivering effective policing by holding them to account |
| Is responsible for the delivery and operational policing and overall performance of the police | Decides what the council tax contribution (the precept) towards policing is |
| Politically independent | Elected to office |
| Accountable to the PCC | Accountable to local people |
Find out more about the Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset police.
The Chief Constable’s annual leave entitlement is 35 days.
Which areas does Avon and Somerset cover?
Avon and Somerset is one of the largest police force areas in England and Wales and includes the following areas:
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Bristol
- North Somerset
- South Gloucestershire
- Somerset
