The UK Government has confirmed plans to abolish Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), aiming to save at least £100 million, funds that ministers say will be redirected to frontline policing, artificial intelligence, and cybercrime capabilities. The move forms part of a wide-ranging reform of policing in England and Wales designed to raise national standards, improve oversight, and reduce disparities in crime outcomes across regions.
The upcoming Police Reform White Paper will provide full details, including the creation of a new National Centre of Policing. This body will consolidate essential support functions such as IT services and forensic capabilities, with ministers arguing the centralisation will improve efficiency and deliver better value for taxpayers. A new police performance unit is also set to be established to monitor forces and drive higher standards nationwide.
A key focus of the reforms is investment in AI-driven policing tools and enhanced cyber skills. Officials say this reflects the evolving nature of crime, particularly the increasing complexity of online threats, and the need to modernize policing methods to respond effectively.
The government has argued that removing PCCs will reduce bureaucracy while freeing resources for neighbourhood policing. PCCs, first introduced in 2012, have faced criticism for low public awareness and poor voter turnout in elections.
Graeme Stewart, head of public sector at Check Point Software, described the decision as a “fundamental shift” in policing. He said the government was responding to the modern realities of crime, where accountability rarely rests with a single individual, and that redirecting resources to frontline officers and digital capabilities is “essential for tackling tomorrow’s threats.”
Under the new model, PCC responsibilities will be absorbed by regional mayors where possible, integrating crime reduction and policing strategy within the broader context of public services such as education and community safety. The transition is expected to take place at the end of the next electoral cycle in 2028.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described PCCs as a “failed experiment” and promised reforms to ensure police remain accountable to local mayoralties or councils. She said the savings would fund additional neighbourhood officers focused on community safety and crime prevention.
The reforms complement the Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, which pledges named, contactable officers for every community, guaranteed patrols in busy areas during peak times, and 3,000 additional neighbourhood officers by spring next year.
Officials say the overhaul marks the most significant restructuring of policing governance in England and Wales in over a decade, aiming to modernize the service and better equip it to respond to contemporary challenges in public safety and digital crime.
