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Jo Coles - York and North Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime

Jo Coles - North Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime

Home - Police oversight - The role of your Mayor

The role of your Mayor

The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire is responsible for overseeing how crime and community safety are tackled, and for providing services for victims of crime

Your Mayor is responsible for a range of duties, including:

  • finding out what you think about policing and crime
  • making sure you are listened to and heard
  • championing your needs with the police, community safety and criminal justice partners, and government
  • commissioning a range of services to protect and support victims
  • writing a Police and Crime Plan that reflects your priorities
  • publishing an annual report that tells you if we are delivering the plan
  • ensuring the police deliver an efficient and effective service
  • holding the Chief Constable to account on your behalf
  • deciding the police budget and how much council tax is charged for policing
  • monitoring the police budget and ensuring it is spent efficiently
  • working with a range of partners to improve services to local people.

The York and North Yorkshire Mayor wants to keep you safe, and feeling safe – wherever you are in North Yorkshire.

The York and North Yorkshire Mayor believes the county’s police force and fire and rescue service must be synonymous with exemplary service across the board – with residents and businesses proud of the way their county is policed.

The Mayor’s main aim is to ensure that North Yorkshire and the City of York remain one of the safest areas in England.

The policing and crime plan has more detail on how this is to be achieved.

The Mayor

The role of the Mayor in relation to policing is to be the voice of the people and hold the police to account. They are responsible for the totality of policing.

Mayors aim to cut crime and deliver an effective and efficient police service within their force area.

Mayors have been elected by the public to hold Chief Constables and the force to account, effectively making the police answerable to the communities they serve.

Mayors ensure community needs are met as effectively as possible, and are improving local relationships through building confidence and restoring trust. They work in partnership across a range of agencies at local and national level to ensure there is a unified approach to preventing and reducing crime.

The powers formerly held by the Police and Crime Commissioner under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, have now transferred to the Mayor.

These include:

  • secure an efficient and effective police for their area;
  • appoint the Chief Constable, hold them to account for running the force, and if necessary dismiss them;
  • set the police and crime objectives for their area through a police and crime plan;
  • set the force budget and determine the precept;
  • contribute to the national and international policing capabilities set out by the Home Secretary; and
  • bring together community safety and criminal justice partners, to make sure local priorities are joined up.

More detailed information on these powers and responsibilities is also available here on the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority website.