Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill

117: After Clause 29, insert the following new Clause— ““Functions of police and crime panels: conduct, complaints and audit committees (1) Every police and crime panel shall— (a) deal with complaints and conduct matters in relation to the police and crime commissioner and members of the police and crime panel; (b) monitor the discharge of the police and crime commissioner’s functions to deal with complaints in relation to the police force for its area; (c) monitor the accounts and audit matters of the relevant Police Commission, police and crime commissioner, and chief constable, as the case may be. (2) A police and crime panel must establish one or more independent sub-committees to discharge its functions under subsection (1). (3) For the purpose of subsection (2) an ““independent sub-committee”” is one which comprises the following members appointed by the police and crime panel— (a) an independent person to chair the sub-committee who is not a member or a member of staff of a police and crime panel, a local police body, a police force or a local authority; (b) at least three other independent people to be members of the sub-committee who are not members or members of staff of a police and crime panel, a local policing body, a police force or a local authority; (c) up to three members that are police and crime panel members, at least one of whom must be a co-opted member. (4) In appointing members to an independent sub-committee the police and crime panel must ensure— (a) that people with sufficient relevant skills and experience are appointed to undertake the role effectively; (b) it does not appoint a person who has or appears to have a conflict of interest or a personal or prejudicial interest in becoming a member of the sub-committee. (5) An independent sub-committee may— (a) make recommendations to the police and crime panel or police and crime commissioner about action to be taken to resolve a complaint or conduct matter; (b) make recommendations to the police and crime panel, police and crime commissioner or chief constable about audit and finance matters. (6) If an independent sub-committee makes a recommendation in accordance with subsection (5), the person or body to whom it is made shall have regard to it.””