In this second part, Policy editor and long-time PCC watcher Martin Beckford joins Policing TV to unpack the colourful history of Police and Crime Commissioners – from headline-grabbing early scandals to quieter, more focused later terms – and what their abolition could mean for UK policing.
In conversation with Bernard Rix, he revisits the Ann Barnes era, toxic PCC–chief relationships, party politics, weak panels, and the coming shift to mayors – while also acknowledging the PCCs who carved out real successes in mental health, shoplifting, and victim support.
Takeaways
- Early PCCs struggled with a vague job and high scrutiny.
- Ann Barnes’ youth PCC and TV doc shaped public perceptions.
- Blurred lines between PCCs and chiefs sometimes turned toxic.
- Later terms were quieter but more tightly controlled by party politics.
- Police and Crime Panels rarely provided strong, independent challenge.
- The move to mayors may not guarantee better police scrutiny.
- Some PCCs found real niches, from mental health to retail crime.
- Many former PCCs are likely to stay active in public life.
Chapters
00:00 The Rise of Ann Barnes: A Controversial Figure in Policing
10:09 The Evolution of Police and Crime Commissioners
16:25 Future of Policing: Mayors vs. Police and Crime Commissioners
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