Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce | Police and crime commissioners

The controversial system of police and crime commissioners will be abolished by the government, the Guardian has learned.

Under the system introduced under the Conservatives, all 43 police forces covering local areas in England and Wales had to answer to an elected official.

The system, introduced in 2012, was supposed to increase the accountability and performance of police forces.

But critics, especially police chiefs, said elected officials often tried to interfere and were ineffective.

Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood, like her predecessor Yvette Cooper, had been considering scrapping PCCs for some time.

The next elections for PCCs are scheduled for May 2028 and will be abolished. The removal also comes with a change in local government.

They will assume the functions of PCCs in districts where mayors are elected, according to a confidential briefing email.

Details of what will replace PCCs and how much money ministers hope to save are expected to be announced soon.

More details coming soon…