Police authority
From Free net encyclopedia
In the United Kingdom, a police authority is a body charged with securing efficient and effective policing in the United Kingdom force for its local area. Separate arrangements exist for England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
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England and Wales
In England and Wales the authority is a committee with representatives nominated by the local authorities or authority, independent members, and magistrates. The typical arrangement is nine councillors, three magistrates and five independent members. A significant variation is the Metropolitan Police Authority, which has 23 members, twelve of whom are members of the London Assembly.
Historically, police authorities for police forces confined to a single borough were known as Watch Committees, whilst those for counties from 1889 had been Standing Joint Committees (after 1889 some control passed to the elected county council, the joint committee also had magistrates).
Police Authorities can set a precept on Council Tax for funding.
Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is supervised by the Northern Ireland Policing Board, of which ten are members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and nine are independent.
Scotland
In Scotland supervision is the responsibility of the elected local authority which either directly supervises the local police force where its border is conterminous with the force, or works through joint boards with neighbouring local authorities.
Single authority
The following police forces are supervised by one single local authority:
| Police force | Local authority |
|---|---|
| Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Fife Constabulary | Fife |
Joint police boards
The following police forces are supervised by a joint board:
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