Parliament has voted to abolish the 37 elected police and crime commissioner (PCC) posts in England and Wales, a role created in 2012 to boost local accountability. The government says PCCs are costly and poorly known to voters; supporters warn abolishing them risks an accountability gap. Duties will transfer to mayors or council leaders when current terms end in 2028. The move comes amid concerns about rising crime, low detection rates and police staffing and funding pressures.
UK Parliament Votes to Abolish Elected Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales
Parliament has voted to abolish the 37 elected police and crime commissioner (PCC) posts in England and Wales, a role created in 2012 to boost local accountability. The government says PCCs are costly and poorly known to voters; supporters warn abolishing them risks an accountability gap. Duties will transfer to mayors or council leaders when current terms end in 2028. The move comes amid concerns about rising crime, low detection rates and police staffing and funding pressures.
08:00 PM, 11/13/2025Politics
Parliament moves to end elected PCC posts
Nov. 13 (UPI) — The Labour-controlled UK Parliament has voted to abolish the elected police and crime commissioner (PCC) posts in England and Wales. The change will take effect when current terms end in 2028, at which point responsibilities will transfer to elected mayors or to council leaders.
Background
The PCC role was introduced in 2012 by then-Prime Minister David Cameron to strengthen local accountability and improve police performance. The government now argues the scheme has proved costly and ineffective, saying fewer than 20% of voters can name their local PCC.
Government and opposition responses
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood called the arrangement a "failed experiment," reiterating the government's view that PCCs have not delivered the expected benefits and are not widely recognised by the public.
"Abolishing PCCs now, without any consultation, as policing faces a crisis of public trust and confidence ... risks creating a dangerous accountability vacuum."
Shadow home secretary Chris Philip told the BBC that removing PCCs is "tinkering around the edges from a government which is failing on crime and policing," citing rising crime figures and police warnings about staffing and funding cuts.
Supporters and critics
Supporters of PCCs, including Emily Spurrell, argue the offices improved scrutiny and transparency and kept local priorities central to policing. Critics counter that the 37 elected officials sometimes overreached, were inconsistent in performance and, in some areas, were dismissed as second-rate local politicians — factors that contributed to long vacancies or high turnover among chief constables.
Gavin Stephens, chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council, told The Guardian that democratic accountability for operationally independent policing is vital and that "strong, integrated local leadership and the voice of communities" are key to policing by consent.
Tiff Lynch, chair of the Police Federation, called PCCs "an expensive experiment, which has failed," and suggested the funds spent on PCCs should be redirected into frontline policing. He added that the upcoming police reform white paper represents an opportunity for the government to demonstrate serious commitment to improving policing.
Outlook
The reform shifts the balance of local oversight: originally designed to devolve control from central government, the abolition of PCCs comes at a time when Labour is seeking a stronger Home Office role amid concern over crime‑solving rates and police resources. Some forces report low detection rates for certain crime categories, heightening the debate over how best to deliver accountable, effective policing.