Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis has welcomed members of the new Ethics, Transparency and Audit Committee, established under the new dawn of transparency in Staffordshire.Accountability, transparency and openness is a top priority for Mr Ellis. He is aiming for Staffordshire to be the most open and transparent police force in the country, an ambition which is shared by the Chief Constable.
An independent body, the new committee is one of the PCC’s drivers that opens the police to even greater public scrutiny. The new panel is made up of local people and established and funded by the Commissioner. It will have wider powers and a greater remit than the audit committee it replaces, putting decisions by the PCC as well as Staffordshire Police under the spotlight.
Members met the Commissioner at police headquarters yesterday ahead of their inaugural committee meeting next Thursday, 30 January.
Mr Ellis said: “Independent scrutiny by the public is crucial as we strive to set the bar higher and create a new dawn of transparency in policing.
“It was great to meet members of the new committee who will hold both myself as PCC and Staffordshire Police to account and ensure actions taken and decisions made are open, honest and transparent. It’s about making sure things change where change is needed, so that public confidence is increased.”
Committee Chairman Rosemary Crawley said: “I welcome the brand new members of this important committee and I wholeheartedly welcome the extended remit to scrutinise much more widely that the Commissioner has asked us to undertake.
“Thorough scrutiny of Staffordshire Police and the PCC is important in reinforcing public confidence and as a committee we are enthusiastic about the challenge set out.”
More details about the committee are available at www.staffordshire-pcc.gov.uk/eta
People can also ring the Mrs Crawley, who also chaired the old audit committee, on 01543 263970 for more information.
