Labour to scrap police and crime commissioners in major policing shake-up

The government is preparing to abolish police and crime commissioner (PCC) roles, transferring oversight of local police forces to mayors and councils, the North Devon Gazette understands.

PCCs were introduced in 2012 under the Conservative government to give the public a direct say in policing. The elected officials set local policing priorities, control significant budgets, and have the power to appoint or dismiss chief constables.

The current PCC for Devon and Cornwall is Alison Hernandez.

ABOVE: Labour plans to scrap police and crime commissioners, handing local policing oversight to mayors and councils. Photo by Oli Woodman on Unsplash.

Labour ministers argue the posts, created under Baroness May, are an inefficient use of funds and that money could be better spent on front-line policing.

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Details are expected soon about what will replace PCCs and how much the government hopes to save through the change.