POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER SUSAN DUNGWORTH APPOINTS DEPUTY
NORTHUMBRIA Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth has appointed Cllr Clare Penny-Evans to the role of Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.
As Deputy, Clare will support Susan as she consults with the public to prepare a new Police and Crime Plan. She will also assist with responsibilities around scrutinising the police, providing community reassurance and working with partners to prevent crime.
Clare has an impressive track record of public service and has been an elected member of Newcastle City Council since 2017. She has held several senior positions, including Cabinet Member for Communities, which included Chairing Safe Newcastle Community Safety Partnership. She was also a driving force ensuring Newcastle received White Ribbon Accreditation which ensures organisations are committed to ending Violence Against Women and Girls.
With her, she brings skills of holding officials to account, advocating for those in need of support and negotiating with Government departments to secure funding and initiatives to benefit the local area.
As a local councillor she has represented Heaton in Newcastle since 2017, and currently works for a charity that works to make sure that disabled people and their families can be in control of their own lives – strong, confident and included in the communities of their choice.
Her proposed appointment was put forward at a meeting of the Northumbria Police and Crime Panel at the Civic Centre in Gateshead today (Tuesday 23rd July).
Members of the panel had the opportunity to question Ms Penny-Evans and were asked to review the proposed appointment. Following this, they recommended the appointment of Cllr Penny-Evans with a majority support.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth said: “I’ve known Clare for many years and she has always stood out to me for her genuine community focus and partnership working – she’s a perfect fit for the role.
“I believe she will have valuable input as I consult with residents and professionals on developing a new Police and Crime Plan and will provide key support to ensure we effectively deliver work to tackle the key priorities set by local people.
“Her wealth of experience in several senior positions including Cabinet Member for Communities and chairing the Safe Newcastle Community Safety Partnership lend perfectly to the role and I look forward to having Clare work alongside me to deliver Safer Streets and Stronger Communities for the people of Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.”
Cllr Angela Douglas, Chair of the Northumbria Police and Crime Panel, said: “Clare’s record of being a driving force for change, knowledge of the region and experience of system-wide partnership working made her the ideal candidate for the role of Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.
“We look forward to working with Clare in her new role to ensure we deliver on key priorities for our communities.”
Cllr Clare Penny- Evans said: “It’s an honour to be selected as Deputy PCC and I feel really enthusiastic about the part I can play in supporting Susan to deliver her commitments around safer streets and stronger communities. I’m no stranger as to how the Police and Crime Plan is developed as I have been involved from the other side through my Safe Newcastle and was consulted previously on VAWG initiatives, tackling ASB and lobbying for fair funding settlements. I believe together all this reinforces my commitment to delivering the priorities in the Police and Crime Plan. I’m ready to get stuck and with Susan’s leadership and a new Government at the top, I believe we can make a genuine difference.”
During the Panel, PCC Dungworth explained appointing a Deputy PCC is an official recommendation of the former Government to enhance resilience and capacity. PCCs cover a growing range of responsibilities and she believes the Deputy role can bring welcome expertise and provides further scope for scrutiny of the police force. She also added that the appointment of a Deputy is widespread practice among the majority of PCCs up and down the country.
The DPCC primary focus will be to support the PCC to drive the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan, which incorporates the Police Commissioner’s manifesto commitments, and her portfolio will be finalised once the priorities of the new Police and Crime Plan are in place.
The Police and Crime Panel is made up of independent members who support the PCC in her function of holding the police to account and also provide a role in scrutinising the PCC’s decisions.
Cllr Clare Penny-Evans will take up the role from September working on a part-time basis of three days a week.
ENDS
