The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill 2010-2011 received Royal Assent on 15 September. It's now an Act of Parliament (law) called the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.
The new law means that police authorities will be abolished and replaced by police and crime commissioners.
On 15 November 2012 you'll be invited to vote for your first commissioner. Once elected, he or she will represent Greater Manchester until May 2016 when a new commissioner will be elected.
The new Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester will operate from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, and be held to account by the Police and Crime Panel for Greater Manchester.
Find out more about police and crime commissioners or read the full Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.
The commissioner will be responsible for:
A police and crime panel will hold the commissioner to account on your behalf. Local authorities across Greater Manchester will be responsible for establishing and maintaining the panel.
The panel will:
(*The amount of your council tax spent on policing.)
Elections for the new commissioner will use the supplementary vote system. This is how the London mayor is currently elected. If there are less than three candidates, a simple majority voting system will be used.
Manchester City Council's chief executive will be the returning officer who will manage the elections.
If you have any queries about the election please email greatermanchesterparo@manchester.gov.uk
We've set up a transition board that will meet monthly, manage the changes, and ensure a smooth transition from Greater Manchester Police Authority to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester.
The UK Home Office is the key source for details about police and crime commissioners, including information for candidates and partners. You can also read the latest Home Office bulletin on police and crime commissioners.
The Electoral Commission also publishes guidance for people considering standing for police and crime commissioner, plus general information about the election process.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has published a guide for potential candidates, which outlines the role of the IPCC and what this will mean for police and crime commissioners.
15 September 2011
The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill 2010-2011 received Royal Assent on 15 September. The new act is now law.
17 October 2011
Transition Board established and first meeting held. Members of the board will be responsible for making sure everything runs smoothly during the transition.
29 November 2011
Event held to support our partners through the change. The presentation is available to download on this web page.
16 January 2012
London goes early! In London the powers of a police and crime commissioner go to the elected mayor. The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime was established on 16 January, and the Metropolitan Police Authority formally abolished.
October 2012
By October 2012 the Police and Crime Panel for Greater Manchester will be established, possibly even sooner.
15 November 2012
Local people throughout Greater Manchester will go to the polls and vote for the first Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester.
This page was last updated on 30 April 2012