The public scrutiny of Police and Crime Commissioners called for by a Home Affairs Select Committee yesterday has been welcomed by Greater Manchester’s Tony Lloyd.
Keith Vaz MP, Committee chairman, recently warned against ‘maverick decision-making’ by PCCs, who replaced existing police authorities in 41 force areas across England and Wales.
The Committee found that only a quarter of PCCs had revealed certain financial data, despite being required by law to do so.
However, in response to the report, Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd agreed that more transparency is required with the public about spending and activities.
“I’m answerable to the people of Greater Manchester and they have every right to scrutinise the way in which I spend their money,” he said.
Mr Lloyd said his Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester website (www.gmpcc.org.uk) set out his office’s spending so anyone could look and judge for themselves.
He also said that the final budget for his office will not be more than £2.7million – which is less than 0.5% of Greater Manchester Police’s overall budget.
“This represents a saving of 8.5% on the costs of the former Police Authority and I’m confident that I’ll be able to identify further savings,” he added.
“I welcome the fact that Police and Crime Commissioners are subject to scrutiny and think it is important that distinguished bodies like the Home Affairs Committee hold us to account.
“I have to add, however, that I’m disappointed to see there are several factual errors in the report. We have raised this with the committee so they can correct these mistakes.”
Mr Lloyd said the staff in his office were transferred over from the Police Authority, and, in some areas, other bodies such as local authorities or police forces themselves carry out duties which his office provides in-house.
These included audit and legal functions – directly hitting back at a statement in the report which said ‘incompetent legal advisors’ had sought to prevent panels from scrutinising decisions by commissioners.
He also argued that his office runs important initiatives which other offices don’t, such as an ‘appropriate adults scheme’.
This ensures that an adult will always be available when police are questioning young people and some commissioners’ offices don’t have this kind of scheme.
Just 15.1% of registered voters took part in the November 2012 PCC election, with many worried about the repercussions of all regional policing powers being placed in the hands of one person.
Picture courtesy of York Labour, with thanks.
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