Indemnity for Returning Officers at PCC elections

The Cabinet Office will continue to indemnify Police Area Returning Officers (PAROs) and Local Returning Officers (LROs) in England and Wales against uninsured claims that arise out of the conduct of their duties in the 2021 Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections, and any subsequent by-elections. This is because for the purposes of PCC elections, PAROs and LROs are statutorily independent officers and are separate from both central and local government. As a result, they are exposed to a variety of legal risks and challenges.