Member type definitions

Members of a Police Authority fit into one of two member categories: Councillor members and Independent members. There are 17 members of West Midlands Police Authority. Nine are councillor members and eight are independent members. At least one of the members must also be a serving Lay Justice.

Councillor members

Councillor members are appointed from each of the seven local authorities in the West Midlands. Coventry and Dudley currently have two councillor members sitting on the Authority. Local Councillors are appointed to the Authority by a body called the West Midlands Joint Committee which comprises the seven council leaders in the West Midlands.

The councillor members are selected to represent the political make up of the region. As such we currently have 3 Conservative, 5 Labour and 1 Liberal Democrat councillor member. Following each local government election the political make up of the region is checked to ensure that the councillors selected still represent the political make up of the region. Councillor members are appointed for 1 year periods, however they are not limited in regard of how long they can serve on the Authority.

Independent Members

Independent members are selected from people who either live or work within the geographical boundary of the West Midlands. Independent members are appointed to the Police Authority for 4 year terms. The appointment process has applicants short listed by a selection panel made up of one Police Authority member, one representative of the Home Secretary and an Individual selected by the other two members.

This selection committee then produces a long list of candidates with 4 times the number of people than places available. This long list is then sent to the Home Office who return a short list half as long as the original. Members are then selected from the short list by an interview panel made up of existing Police Authority members.