Cheshire’s new police commissioner set to appoint two deputies

Dan Price (Lab) defeated former commissioner John Dwyer (Con) in the May elections this year to take up the PCC post.

On Friday, at a confirmation hearing, he will be asking the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel to back his appointment of Warrington Borough councillor Gemma Southern (Lab) and former Warrington Borough councillor Jane Whalen (Lab) as his deputies.

Jane Whalen (Image: Warrington Borough Council)

In a letter to the panel, PCC Price says: “Each will deputise for me, predominantly in respect of their respective portfolios, and exercise any function of my role as required, with the exception of those functions that I am unable to delegate pursuant to the relevant legislation.

“The terms and conditions for both Gemma and Jane as deputy police and crime commissioner will provide each a part-time (0.5 FTE) fixed term appointment to end no later than the sixth day after the day of the poll at the next ordinary election of a police and crime commissioner.

“Remuneration will be on a salary of £51,000 per annum (pro rata), which is set at the equivalent of approximately 65 per cent of my salary.

“For completeness, each deputy police and crime commissioner will work 2.5 days per week for a salary of £25,500 per annum.”

Cllr Gemma Southern (Image: Warrington Borough Council)

The £51,000 salary is the same as former police commissioner John Dwyer paid his deputy.

Mr Dwyer sparked outrage in November 2021 when he gave his then deputy, David McNeilage, a 33 per cent increase after he had only been in the job for five months, taking the salary from £38,250 to £51,000.

The police and crime panel meeting takes place at Crewe Municipal Buildings on Friday, July 19 at 10am. The confirmation hearing is due to begin at 11am.