What we do

Merseyside Police Authority has a range of roles and responsibilities. The main ones are:

• checking the level of service provided by Merseyside Police;

• making sure Merseyside Police Service is doing all the things the Government says it should, for example reducing people's concerns about crime and antisocial behaviour;

• asking members of the public what they want from policing on Merseyside and making sure their views make a difference;

• along with the Chief Constable, deciding how Merseyside Police Service can use the money given to us by the Government and money raised from council tax; and

• along with the Chief Constable, deciding what should happen in the future to make Merseyside Police Service as good as possible. This includes producing a publication called 'The Local Strategy and Policing Plan.'

We're also responsible for:

• appointing the Chief Constable and other senior officers;

• dealing with any complaints about the Chief Constable and other senior officers;

• deciding how much people on Merseyside pay towards policing through Council Tax; and

• supporting a group of volunteers, called independent custody visitors, who check on the welfare of people in police custody.