Police Commissioners will be held to account by local councillors after the Government conceded key amendments to legislation and accepted the Local Government Association’s arguments in favour of making it easier for Police and Crime Panels to veto Commissioners’ council tax proposals.

As the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill reached House of Lords Report Stage, the LGA also hailed a further lobbying victory with the Government accepting that it makes complete sense for Commissioners and chief constables to be jointly grilled about their crime fighting activities by councillors on panels.

Cllr Mehboob Khan, chair of the Local Government Association’s Safer and Stronger Communities Programme Board, said: “The government’s original plan would have needed the agreement of nearly every councillor on the panel to stop an excessive council tax increase by the commissioner. Now only two thirds will have to agree, although we would have preferred that a simple majority could result in a veto. The democratically elected councillors sitting on the panels will be able to ensure residents’ views are heard and that any decision taken is in the best interests of their local area.

“If a panel is to be effective at holding the Police Commissioner to account they need access to police officers and their professional advice. It’s vital that panels can take evidence from chief constables about the impact the commissioner’s plans and policies will have on the police’s ability to do their job.”

The LGA believes the government can do more to strengthen the checks and balances around Police and Crime Commissioners and will continue to lobby parliament to further improve the Bill by, for example, looking to include a robust model for appointing deputy commissioners that ensures they enjoy a democratic mandate.

Cllr Mehboob Khan continued: “We believe there are better ways of making the police more accountable than introducing police commissioners. At a time when budgets are stretched, putting councils back at the heart of holding the police to account still remains the most cost effective solution, and also protects the local partnerships that are the key to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.”