Cllr Jeanie Bell

Elected in 2014 Jeanie Bell is now in her third term as the elected representative for Newton Ward on St Helens MBC.

Currently, Jeanie is a member of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority and Chief Whip. Previously she has held the positions as Cabinet Member for Community Safety including homelessness, housing, licencing and youth justice and has held the position of Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing including Arts, Leisure, and Libraries.  Including a year as Chair of Licencing.

Having served for four years as a member of the Safer and Stronger Communities Board for the LGA, including a year as Vice Chair, Jeanie is now Vice Chair of the Fire Services and Management Committee. 

Jeanie has a professional background in criminal justice and offender management as a practitioner/case manager and later as a lecturer in social policy, criminal justice, youth work, and politics.  Spending many years working with young offenders and dual diagnosis offenders in secure units as well as resettlement into the community.

Jeanie worked as a case manager for a leaving care company, writing and delivering an independent living course for young people aged 16-18 in their own home.

Later working as a Programme Manager, Pastoral Leader and Lecturer, Jeanie worked with Further Education students looking to enter into a career with the police, fire service, probation, youth work and the armed forces. Alongside NEET and hard to engage young people.

Jeanie is an experienced councillor and has navigated a complex and challenging political environment since being elected, understanding the need for a strong working relationship between officers and members, and also within ruling parties, being key to the success of any local authority to achieve sustainable outcomes and long term improvement.

At present Jeanie is the Deputy Police and Crime Comissioer for Merseyside.