- An experienced local councillor is now the new Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire.
The county’s police and crime panel was convened today for a confirmation hearing, where the PCC formally presented the appointment.
The commissioner said, “The roles and responsibilities of police and crime commissioner keep expanding. Part one of the recent Home Office review of PCCs has determined that all PCCs will be required to have a deputy, and many already do.
“Given the statutory, spending and executive responsibilities I have as commissioner for areas ranging from the entire police estate to finance, criminal justice system to national policy setting, or service commissioning to partnership working; I have decided on appointing a Deputy PCC.
“Councillor Ian Dalgarno is an experienced local councillor and cabinet member, with commercial experience managing multimillion pound businesses. His experience as former chair of Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Panel also means he will bring additional scrutiny and expertise into my office to assist with holding the Chief Constable to account.
“There is a lot of work to do. The new Deputy PCC will be working closely with me to deliver on the people’s police and crime plan. I look forward to working with Councillor Dalgarno.”
Councillor Dalgarno represents Arlesey ward on Central Bedfordshire Council and is the council’s executive member for community services.
The role of Deputy PCC will be a part-time role, working three days a week on a fixed term contract to run in line with the commissioner’s current term in office.
“Residents have previously expressed to me and the PCC, their frustrations over the lack of police officers on the ground in Houghton Regis and not once has there been calls for more money going to the top. However, in some wisdom the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Festus Akinbusoye advertised for a new Deputy. Between the £71,400 earned by the PCC and the £32,130 which will be paid to the DPCC, over £100k of public money will be thrown at, what is effectively, one role!
“Cllr Dalgarno has expressed his intention to remain an Executive Member although he has apparently asked the Leader to move some of his duties between other Executive Members. Both the PCC and Cllr Dalgarno have expressed that they understand how the public might otherwise view the appointment of Cllr Dalgarno if he did not give up areas where a conflict of interest could possibly be perceived. Cllr Dalgarno has been approved as the new DPCC taking his publicly funded allowance to a total of £62,282.”
