CUMBRIA POLICE AUTHORITY

The main role of the Police Authority is to secure the maintenance of an efficient and effective police force in Cumbria and to seek to improve police performance and standards. The Authority seeks to identify and then respond to the policing needs of the people of Cumbria and to determine priorities for the Chief Constable and the Constabulary to meet those needs. Essentially it is the Police Authority's job to ensure that local people have the chance to have their say in how they are policed and to hold the police to account for the policing service they deliver.

Cumbria Police Authority has 17 members. Nine of these members are County Councillors appointed by Cumbria County Council and eight are independent members who are directly appointed and are not county or district councillors. At least one of the Independent Members should be a magistrate.

Independent members are chosen through a selection process after replying in response to advertisements in the local press and radio. They are appointed for a four year period and normally will be allowed to serve for up to eight years (two four-year terms). If a vacancy for an independent member of the authority does occur an advertisement will be placed in the newspapers in Cumbria.