Constitution
The Constitution sets out the:
- role and responsibilities of the Panel
- membership and chairing arrangements
- rules governing Panel meetings
The Panel's constitution consists of:
The Panel’s responsibility
Police and Crime Commissioner
The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Panel is responsible for publicly scrutinising the actions and decisions of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).
This should be done in the context of relevant sections of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.
The Panel’s scrutiny aims to acting as a critical friend by supporting and challenging the PCC.
The Police and Crime Plan
The Police and Crime Panel has a duty to review the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposed Police and Crime Plan and makes comments on the content before a final version is published. Throughout the period of the plan, the Panel requests reports on different sections and explores progress at public meetings on how well the Plan is being implemented.
Visits
Panel members occasionally undertake visits to assure themselves of how the Police and Crime Commissioner’s work is progressing. They have visited some of the organisations that the Police and Crime Commissioner provides funding to such as Warning Zone.
Panel members have also visited the Child sexual exploitation hub, and the Contact management department at Leicestershire Police where the 999 and 101 calls are taken.
Confirmation hearings
The Police and Crime Panel is required to hold a confirmation hearing before the candidate can be appointed if the Police and Crime Commissioner is proposing to appoint a:
- Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner or
- Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner
- Chief Finance Officer or
- new Chief Constable
Confirmation hearings focus on assessing the professional competence and personal independence of the candidate.
The Panel can submit comments regarding the candidate and raise concerns but does not have the power to reject the proposed:
- Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner
- Chief Executive
- Chief Finance Officer
The current independent members are
- Ms Salma Manzoor and
- Ms Parisha Chavda
Their term of office runs from 2 February 2022 until 1 February 2026.
Chief constable
The current Chief Constable Rob Nixon had a Confirmation Hearing before the Panel on 24 November 2022 and the Panel unanimously approved the appointment.
Deputy PCC
Rupert Matthews has appointed Rani Mahal as his Deputy.
Rani Mahal is also a Councillor for Harborough District Council.
The Police and Crime Panel held Confirmation Hearings for Rani Mahal on 14 December 2022 and 18 June 2024.
Panel members
Chair of the panel
The Chair of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Panel is elected at the Panel’s annual meeting in June of each year.
The current Chair of the Panel is Mrs. Deborah Taylor CC. She is the Cabinet Lead Member for Community Safety at Leicestershire County Council. Mrs Taylor CC has served as the Panel’s Chair since June 2021.
The Chairperson chairs the public Police and Crime Panel meetings to ensure:
- the rules of procedure are followed
- all Panel members have a fair opportunity to ask questions
- questions put to the Police and Crime Commissioner are appropriate and relevant to the Commissioner's strategic role
The Chairperson:
- has one vote on the precept along with all the other Panel members
- attends private meetings with the Police and Crime Commissioner and his staff to agree on agendas for future meetings
- has an active role in deciding what questions candidates should be asked during Confirmation Hearings
Secretariat
Leicestershire County Council acts as the Secretariat for the Police and Crime Panel. The County Council took over the administration of the Panel in October 2023 from Leicester City Council.
Our responsibilities as Secretariat include:
- completing administrative duties
- maintaining records
- overseeing / performing secretarial duties
To contact the Secretariat, email Euan.Walters@leics.gov.uk or call 0116 3056016.
Representatives from local councils
The panel is made up of representatives from each of the local councils served by Leicestershire Police:
- Blaby District Council
- Charnwood Borough Council
- Harborough District Council
- Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council
- Leicester City Council
- Leicestershire County Council
- Melton Borough Council
- North West Leicestershire District Council
- Rutland County Council
- Oadby and Wigston Borough Council
Independent panel members
The Police and Crime Panel has two independent members who are not Councillors nor elected. Independent panel members are recruited by the Panel to ensure the Panel has the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to discharge its functions effectively.
Applicants are assessed based on their ability to:
- think strategically
- make good judgements
- be objective
- be supportive
- scrutinise and challenge
- be analytical
- communicate effectively
The current independent members are
- Ms Salma Manzoor and
- Ms Parisha Chavda
and their term of office runs from 2 February 2022 until 1 February 2026.
Panel Meetings
The panel meets at least 6 times per year and its meetings are open to the public. The Panel is currently administered by Leicestershire County Council.
Details of its meetings and membership can be accessed on our political management system.
Between 11 May 2020 and 16 October 2023, Leicester City Council was responsible for the administration of the Police and Crime Panel. You can access the agenda for meetings between those dates on the Leicester City Council website.
The webcasts for Police and Crime Panel meetings administered by Leicestershire County Council can be found on the Leicestershire County Council YouTube page.
Funding
Leicestershire County Council is entitled to claim funding from the Home Office each year for the administrative support it provides to the Police and Crime Panel. The amount claimed for the financial year 2024/25 will be published once it has been approved by the Home Office, which is likely to be around May or June 2026.