Outside body

Each police force area has a Police and Crime Panel to provide checks and balances in relation to the performance of the Police and Crime Commissioner. The role of the Panel is to scrutinise the performance of the Commissioner and ensure transparency. The Commissioner is accountable to the electorate for how crime is tackled in their area.

The Sussex Police and Crime Panel came into being on 1 November 2012 and meets a minimum of four times a year.

Its role includes powers to:

·         review the draft Police and Crime Plan and make recommendations to the Commissioner, who must consider them

·         review the Commissioner’s annual report and make recommendations at a public meeting, which the Commissioner must attend

·         deal with complaints about the Commissioner

·         require the Commissioner to attend the Panel to answer questions

·         veto the Commissioner’s proposed precept by a two-thirds majority

·         veto by a two-third’s majority the Commissioner’s proposed candidate for Chief Constable

·         appoint an acting Commissioner where the incumbent Commissioner is incapacitated, resigns or is disqualified.