Kent Police and Crime Commissoner Elections 15 November - A Guide

Following Parliamentary approval, in September 2011 the Police and Social Responsibility Bill received Royal Assent and became an Act. Police authorities in England and Wales will be abolished and replaced by elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). This will create a new style of police governance which has been designed with the intention of strengthening the relationship between the police and the communities they serve.

On 15 November 2012 an election will be held to elect a Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) who will be accountable for how crime is tackled across Kent.

What is a Police and Crime Commissioner? The job of the Police and Crime Commissioner will be to ensure the policing needs of their communities are met as effectively as possible, bringing communities closer to the police and building confidence in the policing system. This is an important role. The Commissioner will:

• set the priorities for Kent Police
• respond to the needs and demands of the community
• ensure that priorities are suitably funded by setting a budget and the local precept
• hold to account the Chief Constable for the delivery and performance of the force.

The PCC will not be expected to run the police but will be able to hold the police to account. The elected PCC will take office on 22 November 2012.

PCC Candidates in Kent: There are 6 candidates in Kent for the Police & Crime Commissioner elections. The table below lists all the candidates. More details on each of the candidates are available from the weblinks provided below.

Further information on the Police & Crime Commissioner's role and the elections can also be found at: http://www.choosemypcc.org.uk/ and http://www.kentparo.org.uk/