Norfolk Police and Crime Panel - Co-opted Independent Members
Could you take on a key role influencing local policing and community safety issues, and make a real difference to your community?
The Norfolk Police and Crime Panel is looking for two people who have knowledge and skills in this area to serve as Co-opted Independent Members from July 2024. The role will require, on average, 3 to 10 hours a month, with meetings ordinarily held in person at County Hall in Norwich. Some site visits may also be arranged.
The position is undertaken on a voluntary basis. A small allowance is paid; travel and some expenses will be reimbursed.
This is an important and challenging role which offers you the chance to provide independent and constructive challenge to support Norfolk's Police and Crime Commissioner.
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 30 April 2024 and interviews will be held in late May.
For an informal discussion only please email Jo Martin at committees@norfolk.gov.uk to arrange a time to talk.
The role - why be an independent member?
As an independent member of the Norfolk Police and Crime Panel (Panel), you would play a key role in providing transparency and accountability for the public on the activities of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). It is an important and challenging role which offers you the chance to review the key strategic actions and decisions taken by the PCC.
This will include scrutinising whether the PCC has achieved the objectives set out in their Police and Crime Plan, and reviewing the PCC's annual report, whilst regularly contributing to reports and recommendations made by the Panel.
The Panel also plays an integral statutory role in reviewing the PCC's annual proposed precept, resolving non-criminal complaints about the conduct of the PCC, and reviewing the proposed appointment of senior staff (including the Chief Constable).
Independent members have full voting rights and are encouraged to get involved in all areas of the Panel's work.
The candidate - essential skills required
Strategic thinking: ability to concentrate on the bigger picture, rising above detail and seeing issues from a wider, forward-looking perspective, making appropriate linkages across priority areas of work.
Effective communication: able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, and interact positively and constructively with the PCC, Panel members, partner organisations and stakeholders.
Analytical skills: experience of interpreting complex written material, including financial information and key performance measures, to identify questions to put to the PCC and other relevant stakeholders.
Teamwork: capable of developing and maintaining effective and professional relationships with other members of the Panel, the chair and supporting officers.
Scrutiny and challenge: willingness to rigorously scrutinise and challenge constructively, using appropriate data, evidence and resources.
Open-mindedness: able to take a balanced, objective and open-minded approach and provide constructive challenge to the PCC, without being confrontational or overtly political.
Desirable experience
Coming from a policing or fire (where relevant) background is not a requirement for being an independent member on a Panel. There are many different sectors which provide prospective candidates with useful skills to be an effective independent member, and current and past independent members have come from a wide range of backgrounds.
The Panel supports equality, diversity and inclusion in line with Norfolk County Council's (the host authority's) policies.
The following suggestions regarding the ideal skills, knowledge and experience of independent members are not exhaustive. You may have particular expertise in one area only, or potentially a different background which nonetheless would make you a strong candidate. It is advised that candidates should meet at least one of the criteria listed below to perform the independent member role effectively:
knowledge and experience of working in the policing, community safety or wider criminal justice sector
experience of working in local or central government
a management role in the public sector or charity sector
knowledge and experience of working in or with the fire and rescue sector where appointment is being made to a Police, Fire and Crime Panel
experience working in the financial industry
legal experience, such as a solicitor or legal executive
As part of its recently published guidance on recruiting independent members, the Home Office has separately published a new digital learning resource recorded by a serving independent panel member. The Home Office is grateful to Sheila Murphy from the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Panel for sharing her experience of the role, responsibilities and behaviours required to perform the independent member role effectively.