(Con):...There are
significant challenges with some local authority boundaries and
their inconsistencies—particularly, for example, when it comes to
the interaction between Police and Crime
Commissioners and directly elected mayors. Where it
is possible to do so, I think that combining those roles is a
sensible thing. However, it is often not possible because
combined authority areas do not entirely overlap with
police and crime commissioner boundaries, which
makes the electoral reality of merging those roles difficult.
This is something the Government would do well to look at,
whether that requires the reshaping of combined authorities and
police force areas or whatever might be necessary in order to
deliver it...
(LD)...Take the
components of the United Kingdom: Northern Ireland has had
devolution off and on since 1922—although it is currently
dysfunctional—and Scotland and Wales have had devolution since
1999, but both are different in their powers and elections. In
Scotland, the three tiers of government all have radically
different electoral systems. London has an assembly and elected
mayor, and other regions, such as Teesside, have elected mayors
and Police and Crime
Commissioners...
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office () (Con):...On the same
day, we also launched Pegasus, a unique partnership between
police and retailers to tackle serious organised retail crime. It
has been set up by the Sussex police and crime
commissioner , with funding from 13 national
retailers, National Business Crime Solution and the Home Office.
The retailers will provide data, intelligence and evidence to
Opal, the national police intelligence unit on organised and
acquisitive crime. That is intended to develop a better strategic
picture and help forces to crack down on serious offenders...
...The noble Lord, , asked about the Bill placing a
duty on both criminal justice bodies and the Police
and Crime Commissioners They have to keep
compliance with the code under review. At the local
level, Police and Crime
Commissioners will be under a duty to review criminal
justice bodies’ compliance with the code. At the national level,
new oversight will bring together senior voices across the
criminal justice system to consider how to drive improvement on
the delivery of the code...
For context, OPEN HERE
