The elected Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Avon and Somerset is Mark Shelford. The role of the PCC is: - To be your voice in policing - To act as the bridge between local people and the police - To ensure the police and Chief Constable are doing everything they can to keep communities safe - To set the police budget and the policing priorities - To help improve the criminal justice system to support victims of crime and reduce reoffending The PCC is responsible for the strategic direction of policing, supporting and challenging police performance, commissioning services and awarding grants. Under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, the PCC is also required to produce a statutory document called the Police and Crime Plan, which outlines the strategic direction for their term in office. The Police and Crime Plan sets out the PCC’s strategic priorities, most importantly following consultation with local people. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner supports PCC Mark Shelford in effectively and efficiently carrying out his independent scrutiny role. Our purporse is to lead improvement in efficiency and effectiveness of policing, victim support and criminal justice services on behalf of local people.