MORE changes at the office of the Durham Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) are expected to be approved next week following Ron Hogg’s motor neurone disease diagnosis.

Last month, Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Panel appointed PCC chief executive Steve White as acting PCC due to Mr Hogg's ill health.

Next Thursday, Jon Carling, the PCC’s current head of policy and communications, will be put to the panel for approval as acting chief executive.

According to a report for the committee, which is made up of members of Durham County Council and Darlington Borough Council, the chief executive is expected to be ‘chief adviser on all matters’ to the PCC.

The job holder is also responsible for the PCC’s £1m annual core budget and advises on the setting of Durham Constabulary’s £113m budget.

Mr Hogg was elected Durham’s first ever PCC for the Labour Party in 2012 and has been an advocate for reforms to drug laws in the UK.

Before becoming PCC Hogg was assistant chief constable in Durham and later deputy chief constable at neighbouring force Cleveland Police, before retiring from policing in 2008.

Steve White became PCC chief executive last year (2018) after a stint as chairman of the Police Federation, a role he won with a coin toss after a deadlocked vote to decide the holder of the position.