The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 introduced new arrangements for the way the police was governed in England and Wales. It created Police and Crime Commissioners, elected by the public and accountable to the electorate for how crime is tackled in their area and Police and Crime Panels, whose main purpose is to hold such Commissioners to account.
Each Commissioner and Panel are linked to a police force area. The Merseyside Police Force area covers the five local authorities: Knowsley Borough Council, Liverpool City Council, St. Helens Borough Council, Sefton Borough Council and Wirral Borough Council.
Emily Spurrell was elected as Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner in May 2021. Her job is to set the police force’s priorities and budget for the year ahead and to hold the Chief Constable to account for service delivery and performance within that policy and financial framework.
Why the Merseyside Police and Crime Panel was established
Find out about the history and why the Merseyside Police and Crime Panel was established.