Emergency services

Question 1

What are he role and the powers of elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs)

Answer 1

Policing is overseen and held to account by them. They are elected by the public.

Core functions:

1. They appoint, and if necessary remove, the chief constable;
   Under the 2011 Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act a PCC is responsible for:
   a. holding the Chief Constable (the top police officer in an area) to account
   b. securing an efficient and effective local police force
   c. carrying out functions in relation to community safety and crime prevention.
2. Funding/Budget– PCCs determine the Council Tax precept – i.e. how much money is needed to deliver the service. (Remember the council tax bill elements?)
3. Local policing priorities – a five year plan to set strategic accountability and direction for policing.
4. Ensuring value for money.
5. Working with partner organisations, individuals and agencies to prevent and tackle crime.
6. Making sure that decisions about policing take into account the views of the public, the vulnerable and victims of crime.
7. Cross-border co-operation: ensuring that police forces work across borders and boundaries to support regional and national threats.

Question 2

What does The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) deal with?

Answer 2

• The most serious complaints about, and investigations into, policing and police conduct, including support staff;
• Lesser cases are mostly dealt with at Force level through their Professional Standards Department (PSD).
  The IOPC is independent of the police force and the government.

Question 3

What are the four principal types of fire and rescue authority?

Answer 3

1. County/unitary FRA - where fire and rescue services share a boundary with a single upper tier or unitary council, the council itself is the fire authority.
2. Combined FRA - in non-metropolitan areas where the fire and rescue service’s boundary incorporates more than one upper-tier council, a stand-alone fire authority is established.
3. Metropolitan FRA - in metropolitan areas (with the exception of London and Manchester), arrangements are similar to those of combined FRAs.
4. London: has the London Fire Commissioner - The Commissioner (LFC) is equivalent to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner. Office currently held by Andy Roe. Answerable to Greater London Authority (GLA) and is scrutinised by its Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning Committee.

Question 4

Who is responsible for the Ambulance service?

Answer 4

Ambulance services are the responsibility of NHS Ambulance Trusts.

Trust areas of responsibility are generally the same as regions as designated by central Government – i.e. North West, North East, South West, etc.

As a rule, each Ambulance Trust is required to provide 24/7/365 accident and emergency services to anyone who needs emergency medical treatment and/or transport to hospital.
They also provide some non-emergency patient transport to and from hospital for someone who can’t make their way alone due to their medical condition or clinical need.