Former counter terror adviser confirmed in top policing role for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire

Jim Haylett has been named as the new chief executive of the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner, a role he has held on an interim basis since last May.
Peterborough City Council Police and Crime Panel appointed Mr Haylett at its online meeting this week (10 March).

Mr Haylett has been the Acting Chief Executive, and before that as Deputy Chief Executive to the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Ray Bisby, speaking to members of the panel said: “Jim has been the outstanding candidate for this position following what can only be described as a very difficult year.

“He has supported me as Acting Police and Crime Commissioner, and will continue to support the position of Police and Crime Commissioner following the elections in May.”

“I hope members will support me in my proposal for Jim to be the next Chief Executive.”

Cllr Andrew Lynn (Conservative, Deputy Mayor, Wisbech Town Council) asked: “What do you feel as the Acting Chief Executive over the past ten months, you can bring to this role?”

Mr Haylett replied: “Policing is, by definition, a non-political role; but the political landscape in Cambridgeshire is complicated.

“So, I believe that I will need to understand that landscape perhaps better than I have done over the past ten months, in order to deliver the policing strategy of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).

“I think of the position as having two roles: The Chief Executive or Chief of Paid Service is one role and then the role of Monitoring Officer carried out separately, but both by me.

“As the panel will be aware the Chief Executive/Monitoring Officer in the OPCC is the only one in the country that combines those two roles.

“That role is the ‘interface between management and politics’, essentially, I take the lead from the Commissioner in terms of policing priorities and the policing strategy plan so that I am the delivery agent for that strategy, while ensuring that the full range of statutory duties of the Commissioner are fulfilled within the broader governance framework.

“While the Monitoring Officer role is about how that is delivered to make sure that everything is done in accordance with the Nolan Principles and Government Legislation.

“I am there to advise the Commissioner at an early stage whether the proposed courses of actions that he has chosen are acceptable within that whole ethical framework.”

Members agreed unanimously to appoint Jim Haylett as the new Chief Executive for the Police and Crime Commissioner with immediate effect.

After his appointment, Police and Crime Commissioner, Ray Bisby added: “Jim brings with him a wealth of strategic experience particularly within the areas of community safety and criminal justice, having worked on behalf of three Police and Crime Commissioners representing them at national, regional and local governance and Board meetings.

“He has also developed a strong relationship with the Chief Constable and the team within my office and has demonstrated an ability to both manage and influence the strategic direction and organisational management of the Constabulary and what that means for me in the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan.”

The position comes with a starting salary of £95,000 per annum.