The incoming deputy police and crime commissioner for Rutland said she doesn't clock off and might do things that are annoying. 

Charlotte Chirico went before the Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Panel this morning to convince them why is the best person for the job. 

She will be taking over the political role from Rani Mahal, who stood down last month. 

Charlotte Chirico, who is known as Charlie, told the panel she was 'most grateful' to commissioner Rupert Matthews (Con) for considering her for the role, and that they had worked together for a fairly long time, including in last year's successful election campaign. 

She told the panel: "I want to continuously improve. So there will be things I will do that might be annoying and things I might get wrong, but what I like about our relationship is that we are close enough for Rupert to say 'you could have done that differently'. I hope we can have that level of scrutiny with each other, as it only seeks to improve the police and crime commissioner's office." 

She said: "I love thinking how things can be improved. I am a natural improver. I like to look at something and think 'where's the problem, where's the solution and what can I do to go above and beyond the call of duty?' I don't clock off. 

"This is not a job – it is a lifestyle choice. This is not a 9-5 job. I will be up on Saturday morning thinking about it and going to bed thinking about it." 

She said she wanted the role because she was passionate about criminal justice, which she had worked within since her early 20s before training as a criminal lawyer. She said she had conducted countless trials and wants to work to help reduce current court backlogs. Asked about her political experience, she said she became involved aged 26 and has been a unitary councillor in Wimbledon, as well as a parliamentary candidate and police and crime commissioner candidate. 



The panel met on 13th January 2025 (Photo: Leicestershire County Council)

The panel will now decide whether to give the criminal lawyer from Melton its backing, but it does not have the power to veto her taking the job even if it decided to. 

This is because it is a political appointment, with the elected commissioner having the full say. 

The position, which comes with a £47,000 salary, has not had to be advertised to a wider area. 

Mr Matthews told the panel, which is chaired by deputy leader of Leicestershire County Council Councillor Deborah Taylor (Con), that he thought his proposed deputy would prove invaluable. 

He said: "I think her background in local government and the CPS (crown prosecution service) with the police elsewhere, does make her invaluable in carrying out the duties assigned to the PCC. I think she will be a real positive to the office."