b"Changes to police administration 10.2 As mentioned above, since 22 November 2012, there has been significant organisational and legislative change impacting on the police service and the way in which police functions are delivered, including the abolition of Police Authorities and the establishment of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). PCCs are elected representatives who work to ensure that police forces in England and Wales (not including London) are running effectively. London has a directly elected mayor, who acts as the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Metropolitan police area. London's police and crime panel is formed from a committee of elected London Assembly members. The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police will continue to be a Royal appointment on the advice of the Home Secretary. In addition to this, Police and Crime Panels have been set up in each force area to scrutinise and challenge the actions and decisions of each PCC. A panel may require the attendance of the PCC, has the power to suspend them from office because of a criminal offence, or exercise a veto over a proposed candidate for Chief Constable.The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 is an important statute setting out the key powers of PCCs and the administration of police forces. One particularly important power worth noting is contained at section 15 which expressly applies the Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 to each elected local policing body as it applies to a local authority.The Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill which is progressing through Parliament provides for the Secretary of State to establish a mayor for a combined authority area in return for devolution of powers including in relation to policing. The mayor would effectively replace the PCC in relation to that area.Fire service 10.3 The provision of fire and rescue services in England and Wales is set out in the Fire Services Act 2003 and the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (as amended). The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (the 2004 Act) sets out the primary functions for all types of fire and rescue authorities in England and Wales (Metropolitan, London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Combined and Counties).There are 46 fire and rescue authorities in England. The fire and rescue authority for an area in England is either a county council (county fire and rescue authorities), or else is a statutory single purpose body made up of a committee of local councilors which oversees the policy and service delivery of each fire and rescue service in a defined area. London, in addition, has appointments made by the Mayor. See further Chapter 6 for a detailed overview of the different types of fire and rescue authorities and their differing powers under the 2011 Act.116"