Suffolk Police and Crime Panel

1. The Panel's Role and Functions

The Suffolk Police and Crime Panel (PCP) is responsible for supporting and challenging the Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) over a range of policy areas, including the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan.

The Panel also has a role in the handling of complaints against the PCC and the confirmation of key staff posts within the Office of the PCC.

2. Panel Members

The Police and Crime Panel has 13 members in total, comprising:

four County Councillors
seven representatives from the District and Borough Councils in Suffolk; and
two independent co-opted members

The Panel is politically balanced, with the 11 local authority councillor representatives appointed to achieve political proportionality across Suffolk.

Panel Members

Chair

Councillor Sarah Mansel (Green) - Mid Suffolk District Council

Vice Chair

Councillor David Ellesmere (Lab) - Ipswich Borough Council

Members

Councillor Peter Beer (Con) - Suffolk County Council
Councillor Seamus Bennett (Lib Dem) - East Suffolk Council
Councillor Peter Byatt (Lab) - Suffolk County Council
Councillor Mike Chester (Con) - West Suffolk Council
Councillor James Finch (Con) - Suffolk County Council
Councillor Rachel Hood (Con) - Suffolk County Council
Councillor David Smith (Lab) - West Suffolk Council
Councillor Rachel Smith-Lyte (Green) - East Suffolk Council
Councillor John Ward (Ind) - Babergh District Council
Simon Furlong - Co-opted Member
Franstine Jones Co-opted Member

3. Panel Meetings

The Panel will meet a minimum of four times a year. Meetings are generally open to the public and will usually be held in the morning.

The papers and agendas for the meetings are available on our website five days before the meeting and will include venue details.

**Panel meeting dates**
Date	Location	Time
Friday 11 October 2024 (webcast link)	Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich	9.30am
Monday 2 December 2024 (Chief Executive Confirmation Hearing) (webcast link)	Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich	2.30pm
Friday 31 January 2025 (webcast link)	Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich	9.30am
Friday 21 February 2025 (webcast link)	Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich	9.30am
Friday 14 March 2025 (webcast link)	Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich	9.30am
Friday 18 July 2025	Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich	9.30am

Dates will be subject to reconsideration by Council on 22 May 2025. Additional meetings may be held to carry out confirmation hearings for the appointment of key staff in the PCC's office, or of a Chief Constable, and any such meetings will be added to this list.

Contact and further information

If you would like further information about the Police and Crime Panel please contact Democratic Services on tel. 01473 265119 or Email: committee.services@suffolk.gov.uk.