Speculation that a new mayor-style figure for Norfolk could lead to the county's police and crime commissioner (PCC) being axed has been scotched by the leader of Norfolk County Council.
With Norfolk County Council due to get a publicly-elected leader from 2025, as part of a deal to devolve more government powers to County Hall, the possibility of the PCC role being merged with the new position had been raised.
Every police force area in England and Wales is represented by a PCC except London, Manchester and West Yorkshire, where the mayor has responsibility.
But the government is consulting over transferring PCC functions in South Yorkshire and the West Midlands to mayors there.
Giles Orpen-Smellie, who has been the county's police and crime commissioner (PCC) since winning the May 2021 election, previously said a debate over what could happen in Norfolk was worth having - but that he believed Norfolk should keep the roles separate.
At a recent meeting council meeting, county councillor John Crofts, who stood against Mr Orpen-Smellie for the Liberal Democrats at the last PCC election, asked whether the council had held any discussions with the government about the future of the role.
Kay Mason Billig, leader of the Conservative-controlled council, said: "The West Midlands and other areas with devolution deals are mayoral combined authorities, where the combined authority is a separate legal entity from the constituent councils, enabling the transfer of additional functions.
"Norfolk’s devolution deal will be through a county deal, which does not create this additional tier of governance.
"Norfolk County Council has a strong record of working in partnership with the PCC and has no plan to seek to transfer its powers into the county council."
The next PCC election is this May, and the first election of the directly-elected Norfolk County Council leader is due in 2025.
PCCs are directly elected to hold police forces to account. They set force budgets, decide crime priorities and can fire and hire chief constables.
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