PROPOSED TRANSFER OF POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER FUNCTIONS AND A SOUTH YORKSHIRE MAYORAL ELECTION

Published 8 February 2024 at 2:30pm

The Home Secretary has confirmed that he has laid an Order on 7 February 2024 which if enacted will transfer Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) functions to be exercised by the Mayor of South Yorkshire from the point of the May 2024 elections.

The Order is subject to approval by Parliament. If approved, the intention is that it will be enacted before the statutory date for Notice of Election on 26 March 2024. Discussions began with government regarding the transfer in early 2023.

The Transfer Order sets out that all PCC functions would transfer to the Mayor of South Yorkshire and the separate role of Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire would be abolished in May 2024, when the current term comes to an end.

This would also mean that a Mayoral election would take place 2 May 2024 and the successful elected candidate will become Mayor of South Yorkshire with Police and Crime Commissioner functions.

A South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) spokesperson said: “Following a public consultation conducted by the Home Office, the Home Secretary has advised that the legislation required to transfer the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner functions to South Yorkshire’s Mayor has been laid in Parliament with a view to it being enacted in March.
“This aligns with the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper, which outlined a commitment to enable Mayors to take on public safety functions.”