Labour Adopts Lib Dem Policy: Police and Crime Commissioners to be Abolished
The Labour government has announced it will abolish Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales, bringing an end to what Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood called "a failed experiment" introduced by the Conservatives in 2012.
The 41 elected officials will remain in office until the end of their current terms in 2028, when their powers will be transferred to mayors and local councils. The move is expected to save at least £100 million by the end of this parliament in 2029, funding approximately 320 additional police constables annually.
Liberal Democrats Welcome Long-Awaited Reform
The decision vindicates years of campaigning by the Liberal Democrats, who have consistently called for PCCs to be scrapped. Party leader Ed Davey previously demanded the abolition of what he termed "pencil pushing commissioners", with the party's own research revealing PCCs cost taxpayers £102.2 million between 2019 and 2022 alone.
Locally, Runnymede Liberal Democrat councillors led the charge in February 2024 when they successfully passed a motion at Runnymede Borough Council calling for the Home Secretary to abolish "this needlessly political role". Councillor Don Whyte, Co-Leader of the Council and Leader of the Runnymede Liberal Democrat Group, brought forward the motion highlighting that Surrey's PCC office budget had increased by nearly 70% to £1.67 million since March 2021, while PCSO numbers were cut almost in half. The motion passed with cross-party support from Labour, the Greens, the Runnymede Independent Residents Group, other Independent Councillors and one Conservative.
The Lib Dems' 2024 manifesto explicitly pledged to scrap Police and Crime Commissioners and replace them with local Police Boards, investing the savings into frontline policing. The party highlighted that PCC office costs could have funded an estimated 3,830 community officers.
In their comprehensive policing policy, the Liberal Democrats argued that over £100 million spent on PCCs since 2019 showed "little evidence they have made the police more accountable to local communities". The party repeatedly called for investment in frontline policing rather than what they viewed as an ineffective bureaucratic layer.
Policing minister Sarah Jones confirmed that powers will be transferred to mayors wherever possible, with council leaders leading new policing and crime boards elsewhere.
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Join us in making a real impact in our community! Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about local issues or volunteer your time. Whether it's delivering leaflets or offering your unique skills, your support is essential in helping us create positive change. Get involved today!