Agenda item

The Police and Crime Panel considered a report of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) regarding the proposed appointment of Miss Charlotte Chirico to the post of Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (DPCC). A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 4’, is filed with these minutes.

 

The Chairman welcomed the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and Miss Charlotte Chirico to the meeting.

 

The Chairman outlined the process for the hearing and the options available to the Panel on the conclusion of the hearing which were as follows:

 

1.          If the Panel was content with the proposed senior appointment, it could agree to report its endorsement to the PCC.

 

2.          Where a candidate met the standards, but the Panel had concerns about their suitability, such concerns could form part of the Panel’s report and recommendations to the PCC.

 

3.          In the event that the Panel determined that the candidate did not meet the requirements for the post, the Panel could provide advice and recommendations accordingly to the PCC in its report.

 

The Chairman asked the PCC to explain why Miss Chirico was his chosen candidate for the post. The PCC stated that she had experience within the Crown Prosecution Service and as a local councillor. She had all of the skills and experience in order to carry out all of the duties expected of a DPCC.

 

The Panel questioned Miss Chirico with regards to her professional competence and personal independence. In response to questions Miss Chirico made the following points:

 

(i)         She had experience working within the Crown Prosecution Service. This experience included various leadership roles, working with prisons and mentoring prisoners, undertaking work to support victims, and sitting on scrutiny panels as a statutory stakeholder;

 

(ii)        She had worked within several police force areas and understood national issues within the criminal justice system;

 

(iii)       She had a political background. She had sat as a unitary councillor and had campaigned for election as an MP. Her role as a councillor included working on a cross-party basis and with community leaders to resolve local issues. In addition to this, she had sat on a young person’s scrutiny panel and was involved in decision making relating to education;

 

(iv)      During a political campaign for election as an MP, she had focussed on reducing anti-social behaviour and increasing diversionary activities for young people;

 

 

(v)        She understood the importance of prevention work and identifying the route cause behind crime;

 

(vi)      She had undertaken work to support victims of domestic violence with a particular focus on removing barriers for reporting crimes and increasing conviction rates;

 

(vii)     If appointed to the role of DPCC, she would undertake to Chair the Local Criminal Justice Board, work closely with partners from statutory and non-statutory organisations, and work towards to identifying and protecting vulnerable people across the police force area;

 

(viii)    She understood the importance of operational independence and personal independence and would apply this knowledge to the role of DPCC. Were the PCC to pursue a course of action that she felt was unwise she would have a conversation with the PCC, make him aware of her feelings and consider using data to illustrate her point but be careful not to continue to pursue the matter further than was welcome;

 

(ix)      She also understood the importance for a transparent, good working relationship with the Police and Crime Commissioner. In addition, she understood that public scrutiny from the Police and Crime Panel could highlight where improvements could be made across the force area;

 

(x)        With regards to ensuring that she acted fairly across the County, City and Rutland to ensure all areas got an equal focus in the role of DPPC, Miss Chirico stated that she wanted to deliver for all communities across the police force area;

 

(xi)      Whether the DPCC’s term of office had been a success should be judged on the scrutiny and feedback of her work and performance by the Police and Crime Panel.

 

The Chairman thanked the PCC and Miss Chirico for their attendance and informed them that it would be necessary for the Panel to come to a view in private on whether to endorse or otherwise the PCC’s proposed appointment.

 

(The PCC and Miss Chirico left the room.)