The Government has confirmed that Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) will be abolished from 2028, bringing an end to a system introduced twelve years ago to strengthen public oversight of policing.
The announcement, which ministers say represents the biggest shake-up of policing governance in a decade, follows long-standing Labour criticism that PCCs have become politicised, suffer from low voter turnout, and duplicate costs that could be redirected to frontline services.
Policing minister Sarah Jones is due to outline the plans in the Commons on Thursday. Under the reforms, the statutory responsibilities currently held by PCCs will transfer to directly elected mayors, their deputies, or newly created Police and Crime Boards, a structure more closely aligned with the former police authorities abolished in 2012.
The changes form part of a wider effort to streamline governance and reinvest savings into operational policing. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the abolition of the role would be a “much needed” reform projected to save taxpayers £100 million, enabling “£20m a year to be reinvested in front-line policing.”
She added:
“PCCs were established over a decade ago by the previous government with the promise of making the police more accountable to the communities they serve. But, 12 years on, they have failed to provide the sufficient democratic oversight over local forces they were set up to do. And research shows around two in five people do not even know that the role exists.”
Transition Already Underway
Several regions already operate without standalone PCCs. London, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and York & North Yorkshire have absorbed PCC powers into combined authority mayoralties, with mayors appointing deputies to oversee local forces. Other areas, including the East Midlands, North-East England, Greater Lincolnshire, Hull and East Yorkshire, are moving toward similar models, with new mayoral roles planned in Sussex and in a combined Norfolk and Suffolk region.
The Home Office will issue detailed guidance to support the phased transition, with full implementation scheduled for 2028, when current PCC terms expire.
A Home Office source said work would begin “immediately” to ensure a seamless transfer of responsibilities and stable leadership. According to the department, the shift will not affect day-to-day policing.
“I want to reassure the public that business will continue as usual during this transition,” a spokesperson said. “All core services—including emergency response, crime investigation, victim support, and community safety initiatives—will remain fully operational.”
Reaction From PCCs
Jonathan Evison, a Police and Crime Commissioner in Humberside, acknowledged the significance of the change but said his focus remained on public safety.
“While today’s announcement signals the end of the PCC role, our commitment to public safety remains unchanged,” he said. “Until 2028, we will continue to deliver on our Police and Crime Plan, hold the Chief Constable to account, and ensure that the voices of our communities are heard. We will work closely with government and local leaders to guarantee a smooth transition that strengthens policing and keeps people safe.
“Importantly, I want to reassure victims of crime that service provision and support will remain at the highest standards throughout this transition.”
However, Emily Spurrell, chair of the Association of PCCs (APCC) and Labour PCC for Merseyside, said she was “deeply disappointed” by the decision and “lack of engagement” by ministers over the plans. She warned:
“Abolishing PCCs now, without any consultation, as policing faces a crisis of public trust and confidence and as it is about to be handed a much stronger national centre, risks creating a dangerous accountability vacuum,” she said.
“Many of today’s flagship government missions – supporting victims, working with local partners to prevent crime, tackling violence against women and girls – originated with and are delivered by PCCs, reflecting the priorities of our communities.”
Calls for Wider Reform
The announcement comes amid broader debate over the structure of policing in England and Wales. Some senior officers, including Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, have argued for reducing the number of forces from 43 to as few as 12 or 15 regional bodies to increase efficiency and expand shared technology platforms.
Labour has not committed to such a restructuring but has signalled that further reform to the policing landscape is likely.
With preparations for the transition now underway, ministers insist the reforms will deliver clearer governance and redirect millions toward frontline priorities. But the coming years will test whether the new system succeeds where PCCs, intended to bring policing closer to the public, have struggled to gain visibility and voter engagement.
