Agenda item

To provide notification of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s preferred candidate for the role of Chief Constable for Dorset Police, and to seek confirmation of this proposed appointment, as required by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.

 

The Chairman outlined how the hearing would be conducted.  He explained that the Police and Crime (PCP)’s role was to seek assurance that the candidate met the criteria and the hearing was not to re-interview him.

 

The three areas of scrutiny that the PCP wanted to explore were:

 

1.    Did the candidate meet the criteria for the post as set out in the role profile?

2.    How were all references checked and classified as satisfactory?

3.    Did the candidate have the professional competence to carry out the role and the personal independence to carry out the role

 

The Chairman explained the powers of the panel were to, a) recommend the appointment, b) not to recommend the appointment or c) to veto the appointment.

 

Mr Scott Chilton, the candidate, was welcomed to the meeting.

 

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) introduced the candidate to the PCP members and outlined the experience and qualities he was looking for in his Chief Constable.

 

The candidate was then given the opportunity to introduce himself to the PCP and he gave a detailed resume of his career and background in the Police Force.

 

The Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) also spoke to the paper in respect of the process of the appointment, he confirmed the requirements from the PCC’s perspective, confirmed that Mr Chilton’s references had been checked and explained why Mr Chilton was the preferred candidate for the role.

 

Members of the PCP asked a number of questions of the PCC and the candidate:-

These questions and responses can be found onwards from 21:00 on the recording.

 

Did the candidate meet the criteria for the post as set out in the role profile?

Questions to the PCC:

 

Q        What assurance can you give the panel that your candidate met the role profile in order to be selected as the Ch Cons of Dorset? 

 

Did the candidate have the professional competence to carry out the role

Questions to the candidate:

 

Q        Why will Dorset Police follow you and what attracted you to Dorset?

 

Q        How is the Ch Cons going to ensure that all partners, with a role to play in reducing ASB, work together effectively to reduce ASB?

 

Q        Further to this how is the Ch Cons going to ensure that any future budget cuts, to any or all of the partners budgets, will be managed to ensure partners do not retreat into their silos with the outcome that the public overall do not receive the best possible service that could be provided by effective multi agency working even in the face of tight budgets.  

 

Q        What is your plan for resolving stop and search disproportionality in Dorset?

 

Q        How will ensure that the Dorset taxpayer gets value for money from your force?

 

Did the candidate have the personal independence to carry out the role?

Questions to the candidate:

 

Q        How will you handle the situation should the PCC give direction that steps into your operational domain? 

 

Q        The PCC has stated that there will be greater police visibility - given that policing is a finite resource, how will you meet his direction and at the same time channel your workforce to where it is actually needed in order to fight crime? 

 

Q        The PCC was elected on a mandate that he will cut crime and ASB.  What targets are you going to commit to for the detection and resolution of crimes and ASB?  If there are to be no targets, how will you measure success in order to satisfy the PCC? 

 

Q        What are the greatest threats to the people of Dorset and what are your plans to ameliorate these threats?

 

The panel members also raised questions relating to county lines and domestic abuse.

 

The members of the PCP then retired to consider their decision.