Police Commissioner invites public questions ahead of next Scrutiny Meeting
19.10.26 - Merseyside
Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, is inviting residents to submit their questions for Chief Constable Rob Carden and his senior leadership team ahead of the next public Scrutiny Meeting.
The meeting on Monday 14 December will see Emily Spurrell question Chief Constable Rob Carden and his senior leadership team on a range of policing priorities including, rape and serious sexual assault, child sexual abuse and exploitation, hate crime, and the workforce.
As the elected voice of the public in policing, Emily is responsible for holding the Chief Constable to account on behalf of communities across Merseyside, ensuring the force is delivering against local policing priorities and providing an efficient and effective service.
One of the key ways the Commissioner carries out this responsibility is through her quarterly public Scrutiny Meetings. These sessions give residents an opportunity to see policing accountability in action, with questions submitted by the public put directly to the Chief Constable and his senior officers.
The next meeting will focus on some of the most serious and sensitive crimes faced by communities and police forces today, including:
- Rape and Serious Sexual Assault
- Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
- Hate Crime
- Workforce
The Commissioner is encouraging members of the public to submit questions on these subjects, as well as any other policing or community safety issue, to help strengthen openness, transparency and public confidence in policing across the region.
The deadline for submitting questions is Monday 30 November 2026. Members of the public can submit their questions for consideration by the Scrutiny Panel here.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “One of the most important parts of my role is making sure Merseyside Police is held publicly accountable for the service it provides to our communities.
“The topics being examined at this scrutiny meeting include some of the most serious and devastating crimes that people can experience. Rape and serious sexual violence, child sexual abuse and exploitation, and hate crime can have life-changing consequences for victims, their families and entire communities.
“It is vital that the public can see how Merseyside Police is responding to these challenges, supporting victims, pursuing offenders and continuously improving its services.
“These meetings give residents a direct voice in the scrutiny process and I would encourage anyone with a question or concern about policing or community safety to submit it. Your questions help ensure the issues that matter most to local people are being addressed openly and transparently.
"I would encourage anyone with an interest in policing and community safety to tune in and watch the meeting."
The meeting will be live-streamed, allowing the public to watch and hear the responses to submitted questions.
The Scrutiny Meeting will take place at 1pm on Monday 14 December 2026.
A link to watch the meeting will be published on the PCC's website five days before the event.
Please note: While every effort will be made to address as many questions as possible, it may not be possible to answer every submission during the meeting. Questions relating to individual cases or complaints cannot be discussed in a public forum.
Anyone wishing to raise an individual case or complaint should use the contact methods available at: https://www.merseysidepcc.info/contact-us/.