The PFCC’s Role

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners are publicly-elected officials who are responsible for the totality of policing, aiming to cut crime and deliver an effective and efficient police service in their area, ensuring that the police are answerable to the communities they serve.

On top of this, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners work closely with agencies and partners across the criminal justice system – such as the Director of Public Health, to prevent and tackle drugs use – to ensure better services and support for victims of crime.

Responsible for ensuring community needs are met as effectively as possible, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners look to improve local relationships with citizens and the police through building confidence and restoring trust, and aim to better connect work to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour, and to deal with offenders. PFCCs work in partnership across a range of agencies at local levels to ensure there is a unified approach across the county in preventing and reducing crime.

Under the terms of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, Police and Crime Commissioners must:

• Secure an efficient and effective police 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 a five-year police and crime plan;
• Set the force budget and determine the council tax costs to effectively deliver policing services;
• Contribute to the 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.
• Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners are accountable to a Police, Fire and Crime Panel, made up of councillors and independent members.

How Policing Works

Policing is controlled at both local and national levels of government. However, you, the public, ultimately hold policing to account. At a national level, this is through voting for MPs and Government, while at a local level, you can vote for your Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

The Government

The Government sets the national policing priorities, passes new laws and allocates a central pot of funding to each Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC)

The PFCC for Northamptonshire is Danielle Stone. The PFCC sets the strategic direction for policing through the Police and Crime Plan.

PFCCs have responsibility for the totality of policing in the county which includes deciding how the £120 million budget will be spent and holding the Chief Constable to account.

They also lead supports services for victims and witnesses of crime and work to improve community safety. The PFCC has the duty of resourcing national and international responses to threats.

The Chief Constable

The Acting Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police is Ivan Balhatchet  – the highest ranking individual in the organisation.

His role is to implement the strategy of policing set by the PFCC and lead the operational aspects of policing.

His role includes managing complaints against the Force and collaborating with other forces to achieve the strategic aims.

The Police Force

Northamptonshire Police are responsible for the operational side of public protection, law enforcement and crime and anti-social behaviour prevention.

PFCC-Chief Constable Working Relationship Structure

Information in relation to the duty of the Chief Constable of Northamptonshire to provide assistance to the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner

The Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police assists the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner by making available resources delegated to the Force by the Commissioner.

These include:

• Estates, including the accommodation for the Northamptonshire Office for Policing and Crime
• Information, Communication and Technology Services, including website hosting
• Legal Services
• Human Resources
• Treasury management, finance and exchequer services
• Legal Services
• Organisation and Service Development, including planning functions
• Corporate Services, including Design and Print Services
• Learning and Development
• Media, Communications and Marketing support
• And other resources on which the office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner may call upon from time to time.

Click here to view the Policing Protocol Code of Conduct

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service

The creation of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire was finalised when the responsibility for the Fire and Rescue Service was transferred from the County Council on the 1st of January 2019. This was made possible by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire (Fire and Rescue Authority) Order 2018 which represented one of the biggest changes to the delivery of emergency services in the county.

The move means that the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner can now be held to account for the performance of the Fire and Rescue Service.

The Chief Fire Officer for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service is Nikki Watson.

The PFCC holds the Chief Fire Officer to account in the same way as the Chief Constable. The day-to-day business of the Fire Service remains the responsibility of the Chief Fire Officer and his team, however the PFCC works closely with the chief officers of both services to look at how they can collaborate and work together to improve the frontline services.

In addition to this, the PFCC is responsible for:

• Setting the Council Tax precept for the Fire and Rescue Service
• Approving the Fire and Rescue Plan and the Fire and Rescue Statement
• Approving the Integrated Risk Management Plan;
• Appointing, suspending or dismissing the Chief Fire Officer;
• Approving a pay policy statement prepared for the purpose of section 38 of the Localism Act 2011
• Approving arrangements to enter into a reinforcement scheme under section 13 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004

Further details about Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service can be found on our website here.