Police and Crime Commissioners abolished as AI used to cut crime

The Government has announced that Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) will be abolished, as part of plans to save the taxpayer at least £100 million and fund frontline officers to cut crime through AI.

Other key measures already announced by the Government include proposals for a new National Centre of Policing, which, it says, will make the best use
of taxpayer money by bringing together crucial support services such as IT and forensics, and a police performance unit to drive up standards.

The move comes as part of a major series of reforms to policing to raise national standards within the police, strengthen performance management and end the postcode lottery in crime outcome.

The upcoming Police Reform White
Paper will set out further powers to improve standards, including investment in AI and cyber skills.

The Government has stated that removing PCCs will cut the cost of” unnecessary bureaucracy”, money that it claims can be better spent on restoring neighbourhood policing.

Since 2012, PCCs have been elected to hold forces to account, but turnout at the polls and public
knowledge of who their local PCC is has been incredibly low. 

Public understanding of, and engagement with, PCCs remains low, despite efforts to raise their profile. Two in five people are unaware that PCCs even exist. 

Graeme Stewart, Head of Public Sector at Check Point Software, said: “This is a bold move by a government fully aware that the
nature of policing has fundamentally changed since the creation of these positions twelve years ago.

“The rise of AI, sophisticated cyber attacks, challenges around online safety, as well as policing standards, means that accountability now seldom sits with one individual, and the public knows it.

“These savings can now be ploughed into front-line policing and digital transformation, equipping officers with the skills they need to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”