APA Comment: Outcome of Police Arbitration Tribunal

Notes to Editors

1. Press contact: Nathan Oley, Head of Press and Public Affairs, 07714 399 760 / Nathan.oley@apa.police.uk
2. The Association of Police Authorities (APA) represents all police authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as the British Transport Police Authority, the Civil Nuclear Police Authority, and the Ministry of Defence Police Committee.
3. Local police authorities, along with the Home Secretary and chief officers of police, make up the tripartite relationship which is responsible for the governance of policing in England and Wales.
4. Police authorities are currently made up of local people: a mix of local councillors and independent members (selected from the community) of which one must be a magistrate.
5. The tripartite partners are the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Police Authorities.
6. The job of police authorities is to:
   • Consult with local communities to find out what they want the local police to do
   • Set the strategic direction for policing locally and decide what the police should focus their attention on locally, based on consultations with local communities
   • Set the budget for their police force, and decide how much local people should pay for policing in the local council tax
   • Make sure the police force is continuing to do a better job
   • Appoint (and, if necessary, dismiss) chief constables and senior police officers