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| Police and crime commissioners budgets soaring, say MPs | Police and crime commissioners budgets soaring, say MPs |
| (6 days later) | |
| More than a third of police and crime commissioners are already costing the public more than the police authorities they were elected to replace last November, according to parliamentary research. | More than a third of police and crime commissioners are already costing the public more than the police authorities they were elected to replace last November, according to parliamentary research. |
| The Commons home affairs select committee says six months after their election, 17 out of the 41 PCCs have set budgets higher than the police authorities they replaced. The largest increase so far is a rise of 133% in Hampshire where the police authority budget of £1.5m last year has risen to £3.5m this year. | The Commons home affairs select committee says six months after their election, 17 out of the 41 PCCs have set budgets higher than the police authorities they replaced. The largest increase so far is a rise of 133% in Hampshire where the police authority budget of £1.5m last year has risen to £3.5m this year. |
| The first register of commissioners' pay, interests, costs, second jobs and offices, published by the committee will also revive accusations of cronyism. It says at least 10 "political or personal contacts", some with little or no experience of policing, have been appointed as deputy PCCs on salaries of up to £70,000 each. | The first register of commissioners' pay, interests, costs, second jobs and offices, published by the committee will also revive accusations of cronyism. It says at least 10 "political or personal contacts", some with little or no experience of policing, have been appointed as deputy PCCs on salaries of up to £70,000 each. |
| The new commissioners were elected to hold police forces to account across England and Wales. PCCs have the power to hire and fire chief constables and set police budgets and crime-fighting strategies, but the legitimacy of their mandate was questioned after only 15% of the public voted in the first elections. | The new commissioners were elected to hold police forces to account across England and Wales. PCCs have the power to hire and fire chief constables and set police budgets and crime-fighting strategies, but the legitimacy of their mandate was questioned after only 15% of the public voted in the first elections. |
| Keith Vaz, the home affairs committee chairman, said the survey showed a national register for PCCs was vital for local accountability despite the idea having been rejected by the home secretary, Theresa May. | Keith Vaz, the home affairs committee chairman, said the survey showed a national register for PCCs was vital for local accountability despite the idea having been rejected by the home secretary, Theresa May. |
| He said there was an urgent need to guard against "maverick decision-making" by PCCs, citing the examples of the suspension of the Lincolnshire chief constable, controversial appointments such as the "youth PCC" in Kent, and commissioners with second, third and even fourth jobs. | He said there was an urgent need to guard against "maverick decision-making" by PCCs, citing the examples of the suspension of the Lincolnshire chief constable, controversial appointments such as the "youth PCC" in Kent, and commissioners with second, third and even fourth jobs. |
| The MPs cite the example of Kevin Hurley, paid £70,000 a year as the Surrey PCC but also a private landlord, a director of a private security company and a director of a Chinese healthcare company. | The MPs cite the example of Kevin Hurley, paid £70,000 a year as the Surrey PCC but also a private landlord, a director of a private security company and a director of a Chinese healthcare company. |
| "A system of local scrutiny makes sense for PCCs, but the public cannot possibly judge whether their PCC is upholding the standards of the office and giving them a good deal unless they make a comparison with other PCCs. Some commissioners have already failed to meet the deadline for publishing information online, but there is no one in government keeping track," said Vaz. | "A system of local scrutiny makes sense for PCCs, but the public cannot possibly judge whether their PCC is upholding the standards of the office and giving them a good deal unless they make a comparison with other PCCs. Some commissioners have already failed to meet the deadline for publishing information online, but there is no one in government keeping track," said Vaz. |
| The committee found only 10 out of the 41 PCCs had met their statutory obligation in full to publish the financial data required of them, including expenses and contracts tendered. | The committee found only 10 out of the 41 PCCs had met their statutory obligation in full to publish the financial data required of them, including expenses and contracts tendered. |
| The MPs identify Hampshire as being responsible for the largest increase in the budget to run the PCC's office. Hampshire said its £3.5m cost included a one-off provision of £2m for meeting the PCC's priorities. The second highest rise was a 36% increase over the previous police authority budget in South Yorkshire, followed by a 29% increase in Leicestershire. | The MPs identify Hampshire as being responsible for the largest increase in the budget to run the PCC's office. Hampshire said its £3.5m cost included a one-off provision of £2m for meeting the PCC's priorities. The second highest rise was a 36% increase over the previous police authority budget in South Yorkshire, followed by a 29% increase in Leicestershire. |
| The report shows the appointment of political colleagues to the post of deputy PCC running across the political divide. In West Yorkshire the £53,000 a year post was only advertised in the Labour party, and went to a former Labour parliamentary candidate with no policing experience. In Northamptonshire two assistant commissioners were appointed who were members of the Conservative PCC's election campaign team. | The report shows the appointment of political colleagues to the post of deputy PCC running across the political divide. In West Yorkshire the £53,000 a year post was only advertised in the Labour party, and went to a former Labour parliamentary candidate with no policing experience. In Northamptonshire two assistant commissioners were appointed who were members of the Conservative PCC's election campaign team. |
| A Home Office spokeswoman said PCCs had to publish a register of interests by law, including their budgets and expenses and the key elements would be displayed on the national police website. | A Home Office spokeswoman said PCCs had to publish a register of interests by law, including their budgets and expenses and the key elements would be displayed on the national police website. |
| "The local electorate will judge whether PCCs are making best use of public money and hold them to account at the ballot box." | "The local electorate will judge whether PCCs are making best use of public money and hold them to account at the ballot box." |
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