THE region’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, has today launched a recruitment drive to find an Independent Chair to lead Merseyside Police’s Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Scrutiny Panel.

This new role will play a vital role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in how Merseyside Police responds to gender-based violent crimes.

The Independent Chair will oversee a quarterly panel of community representatives and professionals to scrutinise anonymised case files where the police or Crown Prosecution Service have decided No Further Action (NFA) can be taken or a decision has been made that it is not possible to proceed due to insufficient evidence or when a victim does not wish to pursue the case (Outcome 15 and 16 cases).

By reviewing these cases, the aim is to assess whether these decisions were correct and if more could have been done to secure a successful prosecution.

This will help to identify areas for learning and improvement and make evidence-based recommendations to enhance policing practices and build public trust.

It is another step forward in delivering on the actions set out in the ‘Working in partnership to tackle VAWG Delivery Plan’. Launched in 2022 by the PCC, this multi-agency, region-wide delivery plan focuses on preventing violence, protecting victims, and pursuing perpetrators.

Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:- “Violence against women and girls is a national epidemic. Here in Merseyside, we are determined to lead the way in creating a region where women and girls feel safe, supported, and heard. By appointing an Independent Chair to oversee and lead these panels we are bringing a vital external perspective to the scrutiny process, ensuring Merseyside Police’s response to VAWG is transparent, accountable, and continually improving. I am looking for someone with integrity, independence, and a deep commitment to driving change to take on this critical role. The recruitment of this new role is another example of our shared commitment with Merseyside Police and our partners to take action against VAWG and ensure the voices of women and girls are at the heart of our response.”

The successful candidate will have experience chairing boards or panels, strong leadership and communication skills, and a passion for tackling gender-based violence. Applications from individuals with lived experience or those who have worked closely with affected communities are particularly welcomed.

The successful candidate will be asked to commit one day per quarter to chair the panels and will receive remuneration for their time.

Merseyside Police’s Head of Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Lamb said:- “Tackling violence against women and girls is a priority for Merseyside Police, and we recognise the need for continued transparency and accountability in everything we do. The introduction of an Independent Chair is a significant step forward—it brings an external, impartial voice into the room to challenge not only the police but the wider partnership. This ensures that all agencies involved are held to the same high standards, are learning together, and are collectively striving to do better. Crucially, it puts the voices of women and girls at the heart of our work, shaping how we respond and how we improve. We welcome this opportunity to be held to account and to build greater trust with the communities we serve.”

Anyone interested in applying should submit a current CV and a supporting statement to:- info@merseysidepcc.info by Sunday, 31 August 2025.

Recruiting for this new role supports the ambitious efforts of the PCC and Merseyside Police’s #TakingAction campaign focused on tackling VAWG and making our region safer for women and girls. To learn more about the campaign, click here.

For more information on this role, please visit this link.