West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner says decision to scrap role is 'unacceptable'
The government says it will save them at least £100 million
Police and crime commissioners in England and Wales will be scrapped by the Government, it has been announced.
The elected officials were first introduced in 2012 and their responsibilities include setting budgets for their police forces and appointing the most senior officer - the chief constable - for their area.
But ministers plan to abolish the role in 2028 when the next elections are set to be held to save at least £100 million and help fund neighbourhood policing.
Instead, mayors and council leaders will take up the responsibilities of policing arrangements.
Policing minister Sarah Jones announced the move in the Commons on Thursday, telling MPs that the model has shown little sign of improving confidence in policing.
She said less than a quarter of voters turned out to vote for them in the 2024 elections, and two in five people are "unaware PCCs even exist".
The minister added: "The reality is that the PCC model has weakened local police accountability and has had perverse impacts on the recruitment of chief constables.
"They have failed to inspire confidence in local people, in stark contrast to the mayoral model, which has clearly been ultimately more successful."
Ms Jones told the Commons that measures including ending elections for PCCs and abolishing police and crime panels will save £100 million this Parliament.
The changes are expected to make savings of £20 million a year, which could fund an extra 320 extra police constables, she said.
In a statement, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: "The introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners by the last government was a failed experiment.
"I will introduce new reforms so police are accountable to their local mayoralties or local councils.
"The savings will fund more neighbourhood police on the beat across the country, fighting crime and protecting our communities."
Labour West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said:
"I believe in the need for a democratically elected and directly accountable Police and Crime Commissioner, whose one and only top priority is preventing and tackling crime. This model ensures there is effective and efficient democratic accountability, governance, oversight and scrutiny of policing, on behalf of the people.
"Policing, crime and community safety must always be a top priority. Relegating these important matters to an appointed role, will significantly weaken democratic accountability. I do not support abolition of the people’s right to vote and decide for themselves, who represents them as their Police and Crime Commissioner.
"The government has chosen to announce its decision, without any prior consultation or engagement with Police and Crime Commissioners. That is inexcusable, inexplicable and unacceptable. There is no credible evidence base for the decision and it did not feature in the manifesto. I share concerns raised by Police and Crime Commissioners cross party and across the country.
"I was elected and re-elected on a clear democratic mandate, to retain the role of Police and Crime Commissioner. Over 327,000 people voted for me – more than voted for either of the 2 main Mayoral candidates and on an equivalent turnout. I take the trust placed in me extremely seriously. I will continue to give my absolute 100% all to this role, to prevent and tackle crime and keep the people of the West Midlands safe and secure.
"The claimed savings are illusory. I have seen no evidence to justify them. In any event, the claimed extra £20 million for front line policing would mean about 16 police officers in the West Midlands. In the West Midlands, we have about 700 fewer police officers than we did in 2010. An additional 16 police officers is nowhere near, replacing the 700 officers that we need.
"The people of the West Midlands want the return of our 700 police officers and reform of the funding formula, so that we do not continue to be short changed and ripped off, when it comes to the fair allocation of police resources. I urge the government to ensure, this is part of its reform programme.
"It is important to note, that today’s announcement will have no direct effect in the West Midlands. It was already the government's intention to drive through a transfer of the Police and Crime Commissioner function to the West Midlands Combined Authority in 2028. In that sense, the announcement makes no difference in the West Midlands."