Alison Hernandez
Police and Crime Commissioner
Ms Hernandez is serving a third term as Police and Crime Commissioner, having been first elected to the post in 2016.
With a background in marketing and business improvement, community safety and a local politician she has increased public participation in policing and developed strategic and financial plans which put public priorities first.
During her tenure Devon & Cornwall Police has recruited 686 additional officers, taking it to record strength, opened an extra 13 police station front desks, modernised the police estate, and partnerships to tackle drugs, road safety, violence, and antisocial behaviour.
Alison launched the country’s first councillor advocate scheme, engaging local authority members in policing, and is a prominent campaigner for reform of the police funding formula so it more fairly compensates rural forces with high visitor numbers.
She is the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ lead for Serious and Organised Crime.
The role of the Police and Crime Commissioner
The role of a Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is to be the voice of the people in policing, and to hold the Chief Constable to account for how he/she discharges their functions. The aim of all PCCs is to ensure the delivery of an effective and efficient police service within their force area.
PCCs are responsible for ‘the totality of policing’ (i.e. all of policing, not just some parts of it) but they ‘must not fetter the operational independence of the police force and the Chief Constable who leads it’.
By law (the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011), PCCs have to do certain things like:
- secure an efficient and effective police force for their area;
- appoint the Chief Constable, hold them to account for running the force, and if necessary dismiss them;
- set the police and crime objectives for their area through a police and crime plan;
- set the force budget and determine the precept (i.e. the levy on the council tax bill that will go toward policing);
- hold the Chief Constable to account for how the force contributes to the national and international policing capabilities set out by the Home Secretary; and
- bring together community safety and criminal justice partners (i.e. other organisations and agencies), to make sure local priorities are joined up.
What is a Police and Crime Commissioner?
The difference between the Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner
Chief
Constable
Must deliver an effective police force and has direct control over the force, its officers and staff.
Leads and makes decisions on all aspects of operational policing.
Is the most senior police officer in Devon and Cornwall Police.
Is responsible for the delivery of operational policing and overall performance of the police.
Is politically independent.
Is accountable to the PCC.
Police and Crime Commissioner
Makes sure that the views/needs of residents and businesses inform how our police service operates.
Sets the police’s priorities and decides how much money the police force will be given each year to operate.
Acts on behalf of the electorate to ensure that the Chief Constable is delivering effective policing by holding them to account.
Decides what the council tax contribution towards policing (the precept) is.
Is elected into office.
Is accountable to the public.