Teesside MP agrees with PCC scrap but long term solution needed
The Government made the announcement last month calling the system a "failed experiment"
A Teesside MP says it was the right decision to review and scrap the role of Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales.
The Government made the announcement last month calling the system a "failed experiment."
It affects Matt Storey, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland.
It's thought the new reforms would see regional mayors and councils hold police accountable instead.
Jonathan Brash, MP for Hartlepool, said: "When it comes to the individuals involved, Matt's doing a really good job who works incredibly hard for the community that he serves as Police and Crime Commissioner. I completely recognise that he has staff that are very uncertain about their position and I have nothing but sympathy for them in that position.
"The role of the PCC was to raise public awareness of police work and I'm sorry, if you look at the engagement of the public with the concept of Police and Crime Commissioners, you look at the turnout at elections, it's some of the lowest you'll see. It's clear it's an experiment that's not really worked particularly effectively.
"It's going to save money to the public purse, money that can be put back into front line policing which we desperately need, so I support the scrap. I genuinely think that most people don't really understand the PCC role and the key thing for any politician is to be engaged and for the public to understand what that role is and I don't think that's been successful.
"It's been given a fair shot. These were introduced in 2012, it's well over a decade now and I don't think the signs of success are sufficiently there and that's nothing against the individuals who've done the roles, some PCCs have been magnificent and have really done some fantastic work but we're not talking about the individuals, we're talking about the system and the structure. I don't think it's worked and I think it's right that it goes.
"I think the Government is right to have reviewed it and I think probably right to have scrapped the role. I think in the interim, as we get rid of PCCs, we have to find solutions. Getting the council leaders to do it as part of a committee is probably a sensible step but I think long term we need to get to point where you've got Mayors who are covering all of these responsibilities and the same area."