Peter McCall – Police and Crime Commissioner

Colonel Peter McCall

I am a very proud Cumbrian and grew up in Wigton attending the Nelson Thomlinson School.  After University in Glasgow I joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to train as an Army officer. In an army career spanning 34 years on operations and in UK in Logistics, training, HR, procurement and multi million pound contracted services management. I was the Principal of a Technical College (including a rebuild and change of location), Regimental Colonel of the Royal Logistic Corps of 16,000 personnel supporting operations in Afghanistan and around the world, and was latterly responsible for managing the careers of personnel of my own Corps and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, some 20,000 men and women.

I have served on operations as diverse as Foot and Mouth here in Cumbria, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Bosnia, security for the Olympics and most recently fighting Ebola in Sierra Leone.

I am married to Ruth a Community Midwife in Carlisle and have two grown up children. I left the army in December 2015.  I am an active Christian involved in local churches. I am a trustee of Bassenfell a Christian Outdoor Pursuits Centre and until recently was a volunteer at the Glasgow City Mission working with homeless people. I run daily, walk the fells when time permits and I am a keen reader of history and historical novels.

The role of Police and Crime Commissioner is indeed a very challenging one, I am confident that I have the background, training and leadership experience to take it on. We have a superb police force of dedicated men and women and I look forward to working with them, the third sector and the public as a team to not only keep Cumbria safe, but to do all we can to make it safer, my tenure is not about me but us: “We not they!”

What does the role of PCC involve?

The Police & Crime Commissioner has a mandate for ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of policing services across Cumbria.  As well as holding the Chief Constable to account on behalf of local people, the role will also involve:  

• Representing & engaging with all those who live and work in the communities in the force area, including the vulnerable and victims to identify their policing needs;
• Setting priorities that meet those needs by publishing a Police and Crime plan;
• Publishing an Annual Report;
• Securing the maintenance of an efficient and effective police force for the area
• Setting the police precept and budget
• Responsibility for holding community safety budgets and commissioning services
• Appointing the Chief Constable
• The power to call on the Chief Constable to retire or resign

Cumbria’s Chief Constable

The current Chief Constable for Cumbria Constabulary is Mr Rob Carden.

The Police & Crime Commissioner is responsible for the appointment of a Chief Constable for the Constabulary.  Recruitment is undertaken in accordance with  College of Policing guidance.

Council Tax  2024-25

To view the Police and Crime Commissioner’s document regarding council tax 2024-25 please click here.