The Police and Crime Commissioner Elections (Functions of Returning Officers) Regulations 2012

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of these Regulations)

These Regulations confer functions on police area returning officers and local returning officers at elections for a police and crime commissioner (“PCC elections”) in accordance with Chapter 6 of Part 1 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c.13) (“the 2011 Act”). The Regulations confer general functions that are in addition to specific functions conferred by order made under section 58 of the 2011 Act. The functions are also subject to any contrary provision in the arrangements under which another returning or counting officer will discharge certain functions in the event that the poll at a PCC election is taken together with the poll at another election or referendum.

Regulation 3 specifies general matters for which police area returning officers and local returning officers are respectively responsible in relation to the conduct of a PCC election.

Regulation 4 sets out circumstances in which a police area returning officer may give directions to local returning officers. The police area returning officer may also direct certain other persons at polls combined with the poll at a PCC election about the time to begin opening the ballot boxes for the purpose of verifying ballot papers accounts.

Power is conferred by regulation 5 for police area returning officers and local returning officers to appoint deputies and persons to assist them in discharging their functions and by regulation 6 to enable officers to correct certain procedural errors.

Regulation 7 requires police area returning officers and local returning officers to take appropriate steps to encourage participation in PCC elections.