A Labour Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) says she does not agree with the government’s decision to scrap her job from 2028.
In November, the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said scrapping the roles across England and Wales would save £100m over this parliament’s term. She added most voters did not know who their PCC was.
Asked about the move, Avon and Somerset PCC Clare Moody said: “You will not be surprised to know that I regret the fact the decision has been made…there wasn’t a full understanding of what we do.”
Policing Minister Sarah Jones previously told the House of Commons the PCC model had “failed to live up to expectations” and had “not delivered what it was set up to achieve”.
PCCs are elected officials and are intended to act as a link between local police forces and the communities they serve.
They are in charge of setting the policing budget, appoint the Chief Constable of the force in their area and work with other agencies to improve public safety.
When Ms Moody’s term ends in 2028, her scrutiny of Avon and Somerset Police will be taken on by a board of local authority leaders, including the West of England mayor Helen Godwin.
In some areas of England with mayors, including London and Manchester, the deputy mayor will take on the duties of a PCC.
The change was not in Labour’s manifesto and Ms Moody said the announcement came as a surprise.
But despite her role being scrapped, she said she remained positive.
“I love this job. I think there is immense value in the work of Police and Crime Commissioners.
“I still have two-and-a-half years left to demonstrate the value…but it is a decision that has been made,” she said.
