- Conference
- 2023 Police & Justice Service Group Conference
- Date
- 25 May 2023
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections are scheduled to take place on the 2nd May 2024. Of those PCCs elected in 2021, 30 were Conservative, 8 were Labour and 1 was Plaid Cymru.
Conference further notes that three police services (Greater Manchester, the Metropolitan Police and West Yorkshire Police) are instead governed by an elected mayor, all of whom are Labour. Two of those, namely in Greater Manchester and London, are also scheduled to have elections on the 2nd May 2024.
Conference believes that the wider public, including many UNISON members, are not aware of the role of Police and Crime Commissioners, reflected by an average 33.2% turnout in the 2021 PCC elections.
Conference recognises the role that Police and Crime Commissioners and elected mayors with the same responsibilities have when it comes to shaping police budgets, signing off corporate change programmes and determining whether our members have any job security.
Conference further recognises that UNISON Police and Justice branches engage, where they are able to, with elected Police and Crime Commissioners and elected mayors with the same responsibilities to bargain, negotiate and campaign for the betterment of our members.
Conference calls on the Service Group Executive to:
1)Engage with the National Labour Link Committee, encouraging them to prioritise work around the Police and Crime Commissioner elections in 2024;
2)Encourage Regional Police and Justice Committee to engage with Regional Labour Link Committees around the nomination of Labour Party PCC and specific Mayoral candidates as appropriate;
3)Engage with the National Campaign Fund Committee, encouraging them to prioritise work around the Police and Crime Commissioner elections in 2024;
4)Develop articles and materials exploring the roles of PCCs and elected mayors with the same responsibilities and successes UNISON has had in engaging with them.
5)Openly publicise the priorities of the Police and Justice Service Group Executive based on the motions agreed at this Conference.