About us

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) is the body that represents:

• Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs)
• Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners (PFCCs) 
• Deputy Mayors in England and Wales

All PCCs, PFCCs, Deputy Mayors and Mayors with responsibility for policing and crime are members of the APCC, as well as; City of London Police Authority; the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime for the Greater London Authority; the Greater Manchester Combined Authority; the West Yorkshire Combined Authority; the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority; the South Yorkshire Combined Authority; Jersey Police Authority; British Transport Police Authority; Civil Nuclear Police Authority; the Ministry of Defence Police Committee and the Scottish Police Authority.  

We support our members by: 

• Representing their views to government and police organisations on key policing and criminal justice issues  
• Sharing best practice and supplying information and resources to help them carry out their duties 
• Providing oversight of national policing bodies, including the College of Policing, National Crime Agency and fire and rescue bodies 

Our work

We cover over 20 separate policy areas, or portfolios.  The PCC leads and APCC contacts are listed on the theme pages of the  Our Work area. 

Governance 

The APCC is a company limited by guarantee. It is overseen and directed by an elected Chair and Board of Directors. 

The APCC team 

Our members are supported by a small team of policy, communications and public affairs professionals led by a Chief Executive and senior team.

Police and Crime Commissioners 

Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are elected by the public to represent their local policing priorities and improve community safety. They work in partnership with a range of agencies at local and national levels to ensure a unified approach to preventing and reducing crime, and to hold the police answerable to the communities they serve. 

Deputy Mayors for Policing and Crime

In Greater London, Greater Manchester, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, police governance falls under the remit of elected mayors who can appoint a Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime to exercise functions on their behalf.  

The following areas will elect mayors by May 2026: Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington. Essex, Hampshire and Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk and Sussex and Brighton. 

The role of PCCs

Under the terms of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, PCCs must: 

• secure efficient and effective police for their area 
• appoint the chief constable, hold them to account for running the force, and if necessary, dismiss them 
• set police and crime objectives for their area through a police and crime plan 
• set the force budget and determine the policing precept – the amount that is raised through council tax for policing 
• contribute to the national policing capabilities as defined by the Home Secretary 
• bring community safety and criminal justice partners together to make sure local crime prevention priorities are joined up

The expanding role of PCCs

In recognition of the success of the role, the remit of PCCs has been further developed and strengthened. New and increased powers and functions include: 

• Police complaints – PCCs have taken on a stronger role in the police complaints system 

• Governance of fire and rescue services – becoming the fire and rescue authority for their area.  There are five Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners (PFCCs), in Cumbria, Essex, Staffordshire, North Yorkshire and Northamptonshire 
• Extended commissioning responsibilities – including working with local partners to commission reducing reoffending services, youth diversion schemes, multi-agency Violence Reduction services and drugs and alcohol services, as well as funding local Community Safety Partnerships 
• Partnership and prevention – convening, enabling,  facilitating and overseeing partnership work

More information on PCC powers are available on the Home Office website. 

PCC Code of Conduct

PCCs are expected to adhere to the ‘Nolan Principles‘. Each PCC publishes their own Code of Conduct and the APCC has drawn up an ethical framework, which was led and developed by PCCs and includes a template Code for PCCs to adopt if they wish.

PCC offices

The offices of PCCs (OPCCs) vary in terms of size, structure and configuration, reflecting the priorities of individual PCCs elected on different local mandates. 

The role of the OPCC is to support the statutory functions of a PCC, with a key focus on supporting delivery against the local Police and Crime Plan. They have responsibility for ensuring the effective implementation of the PCC’s strategy and effective use of the PCC’s resources, compliance with the full range of statutory duties and responsibilities, and the setting and maintenance of high standards of conduct in accordance with the Nolan principles. 

Each PCC can set up their OPCC according to local and regional requirements. PCCs with additional functions and responsibilities (for example, PFCCs or Violence Reduction Units) may have  additional staff members that specialise in these areas. By law, all PCCs must employ a Chief Executive/Monitoring Officer (CEO) and a Chief Finance Officer.

Chief Finance Officer – manages the financial responsibilities and ensures efficient use of resources.

Chief Executive (CEO) – supports and advises the PCC, ensuring the effective implementation of the PCC’s strategy, compliance with statutory duties, and maintenance of high standards of conduct. The CEO is also the ‘Head of Paid Service’ whose role is to determine how much resource is necessary and how many staff are required, in order to manage and deliver the PCC’s priorities.