Appointing the Authority

Membership

The Authority consists of nineteen members, ten Councillors and nine Independent members.

The Councillor members are appointed from members of the Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys County Councils in a manner which must reflect the political balance of the parties across the Councils taken as a whole.

A Joint Committee of representatives of the four County Councils make the appointments to the Police Authority. 

Independent Members

The formal process for appointing Independent members is laid down in the Police Act 1996 and associated regulations.

Vacancies must normally be advertised in at least two newspapers circulating in the area. Applications are initially considered by a Selection Panel of three members:

• A member of the Authority;
• An appointee of the Home Secretary currently Ms. Joanna Mussen; and
• A third person chosen by the other two members.

The Selection Panel short lists the applicants down to four times the number of vacancies to be filled and submits these names to the Home Secretary. The Home Secretary then halves the number of names submitted and the Authority member makes their final selection from the Home Secretary's choice. The Authority interviews the final candidates. The next round of appointments will take place in 2006/7 and notice will appear on this web site.