On 15 November 2012, elections will be held for the first time for Police and Crime Commissioners ("PCCs") in England (outside London) and Wales. Each PCC will be accountable for how crime is tackled in their police force area.
The Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order which makes provision for these elections has been made and was passed by Parliament on 12 July 2012. Under this Order, Ofcom is required to:
- adopt a code of practice with respect to the participation of candidates at a PCC Election in broadcast items transmitted in relation to individual police areas during the election period for that election; and
- before drawing up such a code of practice, have regard to any views expressed by the Electoral Commission.
This consultation sets out Ofcom's intention to comply with the above requirement to have a code of practice, by making it clear that broadcasters licensed by Ofcom are required to comply with the Rules laid out in Section Six of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code (the Code) in respect of coverage of the PCC Elections. Section Six of the Code deals with Elections and Referendums. Broadcasters are of course also required to comply (as usual) with Section Five of the Code (Due impartiality) in respect of these elections. We also intend to issue Guidance on the way in which the Code applies with respect to these elections, to assist broadcasters in complying their coverage of the PCC Elections with the provisions of the Code.