Who we are
There are 43 police authorities in England and Wales, each of which oversees the work of its local police force. Police authorities are independent bodies made up of local people. Together with the Home Secretary and chief constables, they are responsible for the management of policing in England and Wales.
Police authorities are made up of seventeen members. There are two types of member, namely: 9 Councillor Members – appointed annually by a Joint Appointments Committee of the Responsible Authority’s in the area (in Staffordshire these are Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council); and 8 Independent Members, who are local people recruited following national advertisement.