The Government has confirmed that police and crime commissioners (PCCs) will be abolished. Ministers claim the move will save at least £100 million, which can instead go towards frontline policing, artificial intelligence and cybercrime.
The announcement is part of a wide-ranging overhaul of policing in England and Wales aimed at raising national standards, improving performance monitoring and ending what ministers have described as a “postcode lottery” in crime outcomes.
Among the reforms detailed in the upcoming police reform white paper is the creation of a new National Center for Policing. The center will consolidate key support functions – including IT services and forensic capabilities – to improve efficiency and ensure better value for taxpayers. Ministers are also launching a new police performance unit to improve standards across all forces.
A key pillar of the reform is a significant investment in AI-driven policing tools and improved cyber skills that address the changing nature of crime and the increasing sophistication of online threats.
The government argues that abolishing PCCs would eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy while freeing up millions for neighborhood policing. Since their introduction in 2012, PCCs have struggled to gain public recognition. Less than half of Brits are aware of its existence and turnout in PCC elections has been consistently low.
Graeme Stewart, head of public sector at Check Point Software, said the decision reflected a “fundamental shift” in policing: “This is a bold move by a government that is fully aware that the nature of policing has changed since these roles were introduced 12 years ago. AI, cyberattacks and online security challenges mean responsibility rarely lies with an individual. Redistributing these savings into frontline policing and digital skills is key critical to addressing tomorrow’s threats.”
Under the new model, the responsibilities of the PCCs will be assumed by regional mayors where possible, placing the crime reduction and policing strategy in the broader context of public services such as education and community safety. The transition will occur at the end of the next election cycle in 2028.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said PCCs had proven ineffective: “The introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners was a failed experiment. I will introduce reforms to ensure police are accountable to local mayors or councils. The savings will fund more neighborhood police officers to deploy, fight crime and keep our communities safe.”
The reforms are in line with the Government’s Neighborhood Policing Guarantee, which will see designated and accessible officers for every community, guaranteed police patrols in busy areas at peak times and 3,000 additional neighborhood officers by spring next year.
