The introduction of police forces on a national scale in England and Wales began with the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, which required each borough to establish a "watch committee" and thus appoint constables to "preserve the peace".
The new police authorities would consist of two-thirds elected members of county or borough councils, and one-third magistrates.
The Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994 altered the composition of the authorities with independent members being added.
The bulk of police funding came from the Home Office in the form of an annual grant (calculated on a proportionate basis by the Home Office to take into account the differences between the 43 forces in England and Wales, which vary significantly in terms of population, geographical size and crime levels and trends), though police authorities could also set a precept on the Council Tax to raise additional funds.
[2] In the 2010 British general election campaign, both the Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats' manifestos outlined plans, respectively, to replace or reform police authorities, both parties raising concerns about the perceived lack of accountability of police authorities to the communities they served.
Many of the outgoing members of police authorities stood for the role of PCC, highlighting their successive experience in the field, and many were elected.
[9] This function is currently exercised by the Police Authority Board of the Court of Common Council, the elected body that runs the Corporation.
[10] The appointment of the Commissioner of the City of London Police is now made by the Common Council (although technically by the Monarch).
The Board and the PSNI are the successors to the Police Authority for Northern Ireland and Royal Ulster Constabulary respectively, who they replaced on 4 November 2001.
The Authority was created in 2004 by the Energy Act 2004; it is made up of eight members; four are nominated by the nuclear industry, while the remaining four include the Chairman.