Our Role and Responsibilities
It is the primary statutory responsibility of Suffolk Police Authority to secure the maintenance of an effective and efficient police force for the county of Suffolk.
In common with most other police authorities, Suffolk Police Authority comprises 17 members. This number is made up of:
- nine county councillors who reflect the political balance of the parties on the council;
- eight independent members, one of whom must be a magistrate.
In total, the Authority is supported by 7.8 (full time equivalent) staff. This includes the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer, and the Treasurer, which are statutory roles.
The Authority fulfills its responsibilities within what is known as “the tripartite structure” that governs the 43 policing areas in England and Wales.
The three partners are the Home Secretary who has responsibility for policing at a national level; the Police Authorities who set the local strategic direction of policing and the chief police officers who are responsible for the delivery of local policing. In Suffolk the chief police officer is the Chief Constable.
Key Statutory Responsibilities
The Authority has the following key statutory responsibilities:
- to secure the efficiency and effectiveness of the Suffolk force;
- to hold the Chief Constable to account;
- to set the precept and budget for policing the county;
- to ensure arrangements are in place to provide for the proper financial management of the Suffolk force;
- to ensure that the force operates within its powers and in accordance with the law;
- to appoint the Chief Constable, Deputy Chief Constable and Assistant Chief Constables;
- to oversee professional standards and complaints issues within the force;
- to ensure that the force keeps improving, including receiving and responding to the reports of Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary;
- to consult local people and ensure that their views are reflected in the nature and style of policing and local policing objectives;
- to work in partnership with others to reduce crime and disorder and the fear of crime;
- to secure collaboration between forces;
- to monitor the force’s compliance with human rights legislation, and promote equality and diversity;
- to set local policing objectives within the national framework set by the Home Secretary, and publish plans and reports about the policing of Suffolk;
- to monitor force performance against plans and budgets;
- to require the Chief Constable to submit a written report on any matters connected with the policing of the county;
- to meet employer’s liabilities, including health and safety requirements;
- to ensure that the force has adequate arrangements for the management of risk;
- to publish annual accounts;
- to maintain a custody visitor’s scheme.
It will be observed from these key responsibilities that the Authority is largely a body of governance and not delivery. Delivery is broadly the function of police forces. This means that the operational management of policing in the county lies with the Chief Constable.
Partners
The Authority has a number of key partners with which it works in order to fulfill its functions. They include:-
- local authorities;
- Community Safety Partnerships;
- Local Strategic Partnerships;
- the Suffolk Criminal Justice Board;
- the Independent Police Complaints Commission;
- Standards for England;
- staff organisations;
- Independent Custody Visitors;
- the Independent Advisory Group;
- other police authorities and forces.
Committee Structure
The Authority fulfils its responsibilities through the committee structure, which can be viewed under ‘The Police Authority and its Committees’.
If you require further information on the full duties of the Authority, the Suffolk Police Arrangement for the Discharge of Functions provides further detail regarding duties, responsibilities and functions of the Suffolk Police Authority, and sets out the arrangements for the discharge of the Police Authority’s functions by the Police Authority, the Chief Constable, the Chief Executive and the Treasurer. This is also available in the documents section.