New commissioner to lead South Yorkshire policing shake-up

POLICING in South Yorkshire will undergo it “biggest reform for more than 25 years” when the region’s new Police Commissioner assumes office in just over 200 days time.

The new Police and Crime Commissioner will replace the county’s Police Authority, holding the police force and the Chief Constable to account, a week after a public vote to decide who shall take the role on November 15.

Whoever wins the post will also decide how the policing budget is spent and consult the public and victims of crime on community safety.

This week Bill Wilkinson, chief executive of the South Yorkshire Police Authority, said:

“This will be the biggest reform in policing for more than 25 years and a lot of work is taking place to have everything prepared for when the Police and Crime Commissioner takes office later in the year.”

The Police Authority is currently preparing the office for the PCC and establishing a new management structure.

It will be appointing a new chief executive and treasurer in the near future as the posts will be responsible for managing the final stages of the transition.

Meanwhile, South Yorkshire will also see the creation of a Police and Crime Panel, a new body introduced to hold the PCC to account.

Bill Wilkinson added: “It is vitally important that the public, partner organisations and district councils take notice of the changes as it will have an impact for everyone.”

More information on Police and Crime Commissioners can be found here.

READ MORE