South Yorkshire Crime Panel recruiting volunteers

CRIME-fighting professionals are being invited to be part of a special panel designed to hold South Yorkshire’s new Police and Crime Commissioner to account.

Anyone with a genuine interest in policing and a professional background in an area such as community safety, criminal justice, health or victim support can apply to become part of the soon-to-be-formed South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel.

The panel will scrutinise the commissioner — to be appointed following a public election in November — as well as the element of council tax that funds the police, the commissioner’s budget and plans for policing.

Each panellist will serve for a minimum of four years from October.

A partnership of the region’s police and borough councils is responsible for recruiting the panel members who will work on a voluntary basis but with be able to claim “reasonable travelling expenses.”

A spokesman for the partnership said: “This is a volunteer position, but provides an excellent opportunity for individuals to ensure that accountability for policing is built back into our local communities, along with contributing heavily towards the development and delivery of effective policing across South Yorkshire.

“To apply you will need to be at least 18-years-old, live or work in South Yorkshire, be able to attend around six meetings a year during the normal working day across South

Yorkshire and understand the importance of public services and how they are delivered.”

Employees of South Yorkshire Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire, Members of Parliament, Members of the European Parliament and employees of Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster or Sheffield councils are not eligible to apply to become part of the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel.

The closing date for applications is Friday September 14 with interviews in early October.

For an application pack contact Michael Holmes on 01709 254417 or Sharon Crook on 01709 822776 or via email to [email protected] or [email protected].

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