Executive Summary:
The former Police Authority was provided with media services via an external contractor.
An in house media team services the Force.
Rather than appoint a fresh contractor when the CPA arrangement expired, the PCC has used the in house team. It has become clear that whilst this is satisfactory on most occasions, the needs of a PCC and a Police Force may not always coincide. Indeed the PCC has a remit wider than the police force, and so requires independent advice on how best to get across important messages.
Discussions over making this a shared arrangement with the other North East PCCs are pending.
Decision 40-2013: Appointment of Strategic Media Advisor (application, 93kB)