POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER POWERS TO BE TRANSFERRED TO MAYOR OF SOUTH YORKSHIRE

Published 21 March 2024 at 5:51pm

The Home Secretary has passed legislation to transfer Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) functions for South Yorkshire to the Mayor of South Yorkshire. 

This follows a public consultation launched by the Home Office and debates in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

The separate role of Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire will be dissolved when the current term of office comes to an end. A Mayoral election will be held on 2 May 2024 and the successful candidate will become Mayor of South Yorkshire with Police and Crime Commissioner functions. 

Following contact from government officials, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority began the process of transferring Police Crime Commissioner powers in June 2023, after the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper outlined a commitment to enable Mayors to take on public safety functions including Police and Crime Commissioners.

A SYMCA spokesperson said: “The transfer of these functions to the Mayoral role presents the opportunity to align police and crime priorities, including the Violence Reduction Unit, with the work of the MCA to improve outcomes for people and communities across South Yorkshire, including work to deliver public transport, regeneration, skills and employment, health and to improve outcomes for people and communities across South Yorkshire.

“It will allow the Mayor to make co-ordinated decisions for our communities; working with the business community, voluntary sector, Fire and Rescue, Safer Roads Partnership and other partners to deliver policing priorities.  

“Because of these changes, South Yorkshire residents will take to the polls on Thursday 2 May, to vote for who they want to elect as Mayor of South Yorkshire. 

“We would like to take this opportunity to express sincere thanks to the current Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings for his dedicated service to the communities of South Yorkshire and his team for all their work. We look forward to welcoming the team to the MCA following the election in May.” 

To find out more about the transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner functions to the Mayor of South Yorkshire and SYMCA, please visit https://www.southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk/explore_police-and-crime-commissioner-transfer 

You can also read more information on the upcoming Mayoral Election.