The Role of the Police and Crime Commissioner

Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) were created by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 and came into office following the first PCC elections in November 2012. They replaced the Police Authorities that had previously overseen forces. The intention was to bring greater democratic accountability to policing by replacing appointed committees with a single elected individual, directly accountable to the local electorate. PCCs are elected every four years using the supplementary vote system, across each of the 41 police force areas outside London.

The PCC's principal functions are: to secure the maintenance of an efficient and effective police force for the area; to hold the chief constable to account for the exercise of the chief constable's functions; to produce a Police and Crime Plan setting out the strategic priorities for policing in the area; to set the budget for the force and agree the precept (the element of council tax raised for policing); and to appoint, and if necessary dismiss, the chief constable. The PCC does not have the power to direct the chief constable in relation to individual operational decisions, which remain entirely a matter for the chief constable and their officers.

Beyond their core policing functions, PCCs have a broader community safety role. They may commission services to support victims of crime, to prevent offending, and to reduce reoffending. They may work with other public bodies including local authorities, health services, and the probation service. Some PCCs have also taken on responsibility for overseeing fire and rescue services in their area, where the Secretary of State has approved this. The PCC is supported by a small office of staff, and their decisions are subject to scrutiny by a Police and Crime Panel composed of elected councillors and independent members.

Critics of the PCC model argue that the role is insufficiently visible to the public, that voter turnout in PCC elections is very low, and that the tension between democratic accountability and operational independence is not always well managed. Proponents argue that PCCs have brought a clearer line of accountability, have championed victims, and have ensured that policing priorities are better aligned with community concerns. The Home Office has reviewed the model periodically, and further reform of governance arrangements remains an area of policy interest.