The UK government has announced plans to abolish police and crime commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales, bringing an end to a system ministers described as a “failed experiment” in local policing accountability.
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood said on Thursday that the 12-year-old model — introduced by the coalition government in 2012 — had not delivered the intended improvements in public oversight of police forces.
Government Says Change Will Cut Costs and Improve Accountability
Under the new plan, the responsibilities of PCCs will be transferred to local council leaders or elected mayors, depending on the structure of each area. The Home Office estimates that abolishing the roles will save around £100mn annually, with £20mn a year to be directly reinvested into frontline policing.
Policing minister Sarah Jones told MPs that the announcement is the first step in a broader package of “wide-ranging policing reforms” that will be outlined in an upcoming white paper.
Mahmood told Parliament:
“I will introduce new reforms so police are accountable to their local mayoralties or local councils.”
Why the PCC System Is Being Scrapped
The PCC structure was originally designed to strengthen local influence over policing priorities. While commissioners could set strategy and budgets, chief constables retained operational control.
However, the Home Office said the model has been undermined by extremely low voter turnout and widespread public confusion about the role. Many citizens do not know who their local PCC is or what they do.
Mixed Reactions Across the Political Spectrum
Opposition parties criticised the reforms as insufficient to address deeper issues in policing.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp described the announcement as “tinkering around the edges,” saying the government was failing on crime and allowing police numbers to fall.
But policing experts say the shift could work well in areas with strong mayoral systems.
Tom Gash, managing director of policing consultancy Leapwise, called the plan “sensible” for regions with elected mayors, but warned of complications in large rural police forces such as Devon and Cornwall, where administrative boundaries do not align.
He also noted that hundreds of staff working in PCC offices still perform essential duties — including victim support commissioning, transparency oversight, and public complaint handling — which will need new administrative homes.
PCCs Express Disappointment
The decision was strongly criticised by current commissioners.
Emily Spurrell, PCC for Merseyside and chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said the organisation was “deeply disappointed,” stressing that PCCs had “transformed policing accountability” over the past decade.
The PCC model, she argued, had strengthened the link between police forces and local communities while expanding support services for victims.
What Happens Next
The government confirmed that the roles will be phased out after the current terms of commissioners end in 2028. The upcoming policing white paper may also propose mergers among the 43 territorial police forces of England and Wales — many of which cover small geographic areas — as part of a broader restructuring effort.
The Home Office has already announced plans to establish a National Centre of Policing, which will oversee coordination across forces and replace several existing bodies.
