Kent Police Authority chief executive Graham Hooper

Police authority said it will not be complacent during handover to Police and Crime Commissioner

In just nine months Kent will see one of the biggest changes to the way the force is overseen in almost half a century.

One person will take over the role of the Kent Police Authority and be given responsibility for hiring and firing Kent Police’s chief constable, setting the force’s budget and monitoring performance of officers.

And, despite the huge task ahead for the individual, there is no obligatory police or public service experience needed for whoever takes on the new role of Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

With the countdown officially started and a number of contenders having already thrown their hats into the ring for the position, Kent Police Authority is preparing for what could be a potentially challenging handover.

From November 22 –just a week after the PCC is elected– the police authority, which sees 16 members oversee the force, will cease to exist.

But chief executive of Kent Police Authority Graham Hooper said while he was not being complacent, he was confident there would be a smooth transition.

“We can’t afford to be complacent; this is a big change. There are bound to be some challenges that come up and we will find out how to deal with these issues when they arise,” he said.

“I’m reasonably confident though that we’ve got a good plan. We’ll be using a blend of material for the transition work; national guidance, good practice from other sectors, such as the directly elected mayoral model used in Lewisham, alongside in-house thinking and expertise.”

In the run up to the elections, the police authority will be running briefing sessions with candidates to offer information about Kent Police.

“They can take that away and make their own decisions about how to use the material we have provided,” said Mr Hooper.

“The election process is on November 15 and seven days later the chosen candidate will take office. The elected authority members will no longer do the job.

“In that week leading up to he or she taking office we can sit down with them and brief them and assist them in understanding the role that they are about to take on.”

Mr Hooper said his job will be to ensure the PCC is properly supported.

He added: “The PCC will want to be seen to be raising standards and so I’m sure he or she will be in listening mode.”

The new PCC role has come under fire from the chairman of the Kent Police Federation, Ian Pointon.

When the new system was unveiled by the government, he warned it was leading to “dangerous new ground around the politicisation of the police”.

“They will have the power to hire and fire chief constables, which will present unwelcome pressure leading up to elections,” he said.

“I can’t see what’s fundamentally wrong with the current system. Is it perfect? Absolutely not, but I don’t think it’s broken.”

Army veteran Col Tim Collins, famed for his inspirational Iraq War speech, is hoping to run for the position of PCC.