Archived decisions

REPORT OF THE

HAMPSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY

APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT MEMBERS OF THE POLICE AUTHORITY

1 As a result of the implementation of the provisions of the Police and Justice Act 2006, the magistrate category of police authority membership will cease on 1 October 2008 which will lead to three vacancies for independent members of the Authority. Although there will be no separate magistrate category of membership, at least one independent member of the authority must be a magistrate.

The selection and appointment procedure of independent members must comply with the relevant statutory requirements.

There are two stages:

2 The first stage selection panel will consist of five people - three appointed by the Authority; a Home Office nominee and an Independent Assessor selected by the other four members from a list kept by the Home Office. The criteria for membership of this list is that the assessor will have completed the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointment's training or have membership of another appropriate body. Part of the role of the Independent Assessor is to ensure that there is equality of opportunity and transparency and openness in the recruitment process and that a diverse range of applicants are encouraged to apply, thereby providing the best possible service to communities in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The selection panel will determine the skills, competencies and communities which are under-represented on the Authority and prioritise the key requirements of the vacancies accordingly.

3 The selection panel will draw up a ranked short list of applicants, including at least twice as many candidates as vacancies and at least two magistrates, which will be presented to the second stage selection panel made up of members of the Authority which will make the appointments on behalf of the Authority.

It is anticipated that these vacancies will be advertised as widely as possible throughout Hampshire and the Isle of Wight towards the end of May to attract suitably qualified applicants and that the final selection of the three new independent members will be made at the end of July.

Cllr Mrs Jacqui Rayment

Chair