The clock is running and the countdown to the biggest change to policing governance has begun.  In a year’s time, on 15 November 2011, we will all be voting to elect the inaugural Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire. 

Anyone who feels that the public have no voice in the way they are policed will be able to go out there and vote for the candidate they feel is most likely to deliver the changes they wish to see.

This is a step change in the way that the police will be held to account for performance and you have a big part in it.  It is your right, your opportunity, but also your responsibility, so please make sure you use your vote.

PCCs are the biggest change in policing in decades and are designed to bring the police closer to the public they represent. We hope people from all parts of the community view the elections as a golden opportunity to have a greater involvement in shaping the way policing is carried out. 

The elections offer people that chance to influence, or even change, the way services are delivered in their community.

Over the next twelve months we will be telling you more about the Commissioner’s job and keeping you up to date with developments, both local and national.

To ensure that the changeover goes without a hitch, the Police Authority is busy building a framework for the new system so that the Constabulary’s excellent performance is unaffected. This work includes setting next year’s budget, which takes place in February, to ensure the newly-elected PCC inherits a financially sound and fit for purpose organisation.

As we prepare to complete this task we want to hear what the public feel are the most important policing priorities - as well as their opinions on next year’s precept, the proportion of the council tax bill which funds policing.