Bedfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner to be axed in government shake-up

The role was first introduced in 2012, and includes setting budgets for police forces and appointing the chief constable.

But now the government says it plans to axe the role in 2028, when the next elections are due to be held. Instead, their responsibilities will be taken on by elected mayors and council leaders wherever possible, meaning measures to cut crime will be considered as part of wider public services such as education and healthcare.

Meanwhile, the Association for Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) said it was “disappointed” by the move and lack of engagement.

And Bedfordshire’s PCC John Tizard said it was ‘business as usual’ for now, and that he remained committed to the people of Bedfordshire.

Policing Minister Sarah Jones announced the plans to the House of Commons on Thursday (November 13).

She said the model had shown “little sign” of improving confidence in policing, that less than a quarter of voters across the country turned out for the 2024 election, and two in five are “unaware” they “even exist”.

She said: “The reality is that the PCC model has weakened local police accountability and has had perverse impacts on the recruitment of chief constables.

“They have failed to inspire confidence in local people, in stark contrast to the mayoral model, which has clearly been ultimately more successful.”

The changes are expected to save £20 million a year nationally, which could fund an extra 320 police officers, she added.

In Bedfordshire, Labour’s John Tizard was elected in 2024 – beating previous incumbent Festus Akinbusoye. But the turnout was just 19.78 per cent, down from 24.9 per cent in 2021.

In February this year, he was criticised for rising costs within his office. At the time, independent panel member Lee Melville challenged the PCC, highlighting a £70,000 salary for a communications manager, an increase in headcount, and a “significant” pay rise for the chief executive.

He told the PCC he was “running above [his] means at the taxpayers’ expense, and not delivering value for money”.

In response, the PCC defended the restructuring, stating that his office (the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner – OPCC) lacked key roles essential for holding the chief constable and force to account.

And in September, the PCC defended a £40k survey on public trust in the county’s police force.

Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said: “The introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners by the last government was a failed experiment.

“I will introduce new reforms so police are accountable to their local mayoralties or local councils. The savings will fund more neighbourhood police on the beat across the country, fighting crime and protecting our communities.

“I would like to recognise the efforts of all current and former Police and Crime Commissioners, and thank them. These individuals served their communities and will continue to do so until they have completed their current terms.”

APCC Chair, Emily Spurrell, PCC for Merseyside, said: “For more than a decade, directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners have transformed policing accountability and delivered essential support services for victims of crime. Having a single, visible local leader – answerable to the public – has improved scrutiny and transparency, ensuring policing delivers on the issues that matter most to local communities.

“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.

“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.

“Whatever follows in our place must be rooted in local and national accountability, clear and identifiable leadership and connected to local communities. The public deserve nothing less.

“PCCs have worked hand-in-hand with the Home Office and operational policing to shape a police service fit for the future and confront policing’s biggest challenges. We remain committed to ensuring that public accountability remains at the heart of police reform.“

In a statement, PCC John Tizard said: "As the Police and Crime Commissioner, I want to reassure everyone that I remain committed to delivering for you, and for our communities across Bedfordshire. It will be business as usual for the next two and a half years.

“We are still awaiting further details from the government on precisely what the governance after May 2028 will look like. What we know so far is that from May 2028, the PCC role will transfer either to a combined authority mayor, or, as in the case of Bedfordshire, a new governance arrangement involving senior local authority leaders and co-opted members with a dedicated lead for policing. Full details on how this will affect governance structures and staff are still emerging, but I will push for transparency and fairness in every decision affecting our workforce.

“Whatever the governance arrangements, the core roles undertaken by the team in my office will continue even if under different political arrangements.

“Between now and the proposed changeover, my team will continue to work to the highest standards. Our priorities, to keep Bedfordshire safe, listen to the public, provide commissioned services and ensure accountability and strategic oversight for policing remain unchanged.”