Veteran crime and politics journalist Martin Beckford (Policy Editor, Daily Mail) joins Policing TV’s Bernard Rix to unpack the rise – and looming end – of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales. From the disastrous first elections in 2012 to controversies over expenses, deputies and job design, Martin reflects on more than a decade of watching PCCs up close.
They explore what PCCs were meant to be, what they actually did, why the public never really “got” them, and how the latest government plans to scrap or replace them with mayors could reshape police accountability in the years ahead.
Takeaways
- PCCs set police budgets and strategy but stayed poorly understood.
- Their real clout was hiring and firing chief constables.
- The 2012 PCC elections had record-low turnout and high cost.
- Early PCCs were a mixed bag: ex-military, ex-police, ex-MPs and independents.
- PCCs often hired drivers and deputies, leading to questions about expenses.
- Many PCCs defended forces more than they challenged them.
- Government now plans to scrap PCCs and hand powers to mayors.
- Government plans now aim to scrap PCCs and shift power to mayors and other models of governance.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Police and Crime Commissioners
01:35 The Role and Purpose of PCCs
03:49 The First Election and Its Consequences
06:09 Challenges Faced by Early PCCs
08:14 Scrutiny and Accountability of PCCs
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