About

Information about Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Panel

The Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Panel (PFCP) has been established to scrutinise and support the work of the Commissioner and is one of the key checks and balances in relation to monitoring their performance. (The PFCP is not there to scrutinise the Chief Constable or Chief Fire Officer). The Commissioner will be required to consult with the PFCP on his or her plans and budget for policing and the Fire and Rescue service, as well as the council tax precept and certain key appointments. 
 
Westmorland and Furness Council is the host local authority for the PFCP and will provide administrative and other support to the panel and its members.

The 2 Unitary Local authorities making up the Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Panel are:

  • To review the draft Police and Crime plan

  • To review the draft Fire and Rescue plan

  • To publicly scrutinise the Commissioner's annual report

  • To review and scrutinise decisions and actions by the Commissioner

  • To review the Commissioner's proposed precept levels

  • To review the Commissioner's Conduct

  • To review and confirm the Commissioner's proposed appointments of Chief Constable, Chief Fire Officer, Chief Executive, Chief Finance Officer, and Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner

Cumbria Police and Crime Panel is also responsible for handling complaints about the conduct of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). If your complaint alleges criminal conduct we will record it first then refer it to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for investigation. If you send your complaint directly to the IOPC they will send it to us to record it.

Non-criminal complaints are dealt with by the host authority, usually through a process called informal resolution. This is where the Panel mediates between both parties to solve, clarify, explain or settle the matter without investigation or formal proceedings.

To make a complaint please complete our complaint form by downloading a Word version and send it to: 

email: Monitoring.Officer@cumbria.gov.uk

or post: The Monitoring Officer, Cumbria House, Botchergate, Carlisle, CA1 1RD.

There are some complaints we can't look into because we do not have the legal power to do so. There are separate procedures for the following complaints:

  • Complaints about operational policing matters or the performance of Cumbria Police or any of its officers are dealt with by the Cumbria Police Professional Standards Department.
  • Complaints about the Chief Constable and staff the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner are dealt with by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Complaints Procedure:

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