The Home Secretary has appointed Julia Mulligan as Chair of the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales (PABEW) by a recruitment exercise with the Governance Code on Public Appointments
Julia Mulligan is an experienced senior leader in the policing and fire sectors. For nearly nine years, she has been the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) for North Yorkshire, during a period of substantial change and challenge. She will stand down from her role as PFCC on 13 May.
Julia has held a number of national roles, including six years as a Director of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), the national body for Police and Crime Commissioners. Her national portfolios included Transparency and Integrity, and joint lead for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, as well as co-chairing the APCC’s Race Disparity Working Group.
In May 2020, Julia was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, which works to protect vulnerable and exploited workers. She is also a member of Dame Sara Thornton’s Advisory Panel which provides support and advice to the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, and a member of the national Fire Standards Board.
Julia has a keen interest in supporting victims and vulnerable people, which is reflected in her role as Chair of Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS), one of the largest specialist domestic abuse charities in the North of England.
Julia Mulligan said:
I’d like to thank the Home Secretary for placing her confidence in me. Having served nearly nine years as a Police and Crime Commissioner, taking on the role of independent Chair represents a change in direction, but one in which I can continue to use my skills and experience to support policing.
The PABEW considers important matters, and I’d like to extend my thanks to out-going Chair, Elizabeth France for her excellent work, as well as to the secretariat for their expertise and support. Looking ahead, we have a lot of work to do, which will need very careful consideration as the impact will be lasting. Getting things right for both the police workforce and public is important, as it will help put policing in the best possible position to continue its critical work of cutting crime and protecting the public.
The role of the PABEW is to advise the Home Secretary about matters such as recruitment, diversity and collaboration between forces affecting the police in England and Wales. The PABEW was established as a non-departmental public body under section 46 of the Police Act 1964, now section 63 of the Police Act 1996. The Chair of the Board oversees several statutory functions including:
advising the Home Secretary on general questions affecting the police in England and Wales
considering draft regulations on matters other than hours of duty, leave, pay and allowance such as the issue, use and return of police clothing, personal equipment and accoutrements
considering draft regulations related to pensions under section 1 of the Police Pensions Act 1976
establishing the Scheme Advisory Board (SAB) for the Police Pension Schemes, in accordance with s7 of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013
It may also consider any matter relating to conditions of service and any other matter affecting the police which has been referred to it by the Secretary of State.
Julia has been appointed for 3 years from 16 April 2021.