Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Combined Authority Mayoral elections

Working for the police

You are disqualified from standing as a candidate if you are a police officer or are otherwise employed by the police.

This disqualification applies to:

  • members of police forces (including special constables) in the UK, including the Metropolitan police and the City of London police
  • members of the British Transport Police Force (including special constables)
  • members of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary

You are also disqualified from standing if you are:

  • a member of staff (excluding a deputy mayor for policing and crime) of a Police and Crime Commissioner
  • a member of staff of the London Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime
  • the Mayor of London
  • a member of the Common Council of the City of London or a member of staff of that Council in its capacity as a police authority

You are also disqualified from standing at the combined authority mayoral election in Greater Manchester or West Yorkshire if you are a member of, or a member of staff of, or hold any employment in an organisation which is under the control of:

  • the British Transport Police Authority
  • the Civil Nuclear Police Authority
  • the Independent Police Complaints Commission
  • the National Crime Agency

You are also disqualified if you are employed in an organisation which is under the control of a local policing body, the chief officer of police for a police force in any police area or the City of London, or the chief officer of police of the British Transport Police Force or the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.

The disqualification of working for the police applies on both the date of your nomination and on polling day. If you were employed by the police, you must have resigned and served any notice period before the date of your nomination to avoid having a contract of employment with the police at that time.

Last updated: 1 December 2023