Farewell Police & Crime Commissioners

[spen666]

Apart from the post holders and their staff, will many mourn their loss?

Will it make much difference both in financial and practical terms to the public at large?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...ioners-to-be-abolished-government-to-announce

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ed-tape-giving-oversight-councils-mayors.html

 

[Rusty Nails]

I did some work with one a few years ago.

In work he was known by his staff as someone who would avoid work and responsibility while talking a good game to those above, but was active in the Labour party.

He somehow got into a high level of Welsh politics where he survived for a few years, again doing nothing of note, and then he landed the jackpot with the sinecure of PCC.

He rose without trace was a good way of describing his career.

I am not convinced they are needed, but they certainly should not be party political appointments.

 

[CXRAndy]

Just another political mouth to feed and pension off

 

[AuroraSaab]

Apart from the post holders and their staff, will many mourn their loss? Will it make much difference both in financial and practical terms to the public at large?

I think some do try to hold their forces to account but they don't have much power and are pretty poor value for money overall. I doubt there will be a noticeable difference once they've all gone.

For example, here's a force refusing to hand over arrest footage from bodycams from an incident 4 years ago. I would expect that the PCC knew about it but didn't or perhaps couldn't get the force to cooperate.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr437vg0r5lo.amp

 

[Bazzer]

I have had only one involvememt with a PCC, when I wrote to the local PCC about the police failing to take action within time when I was hit by an inattentive driver, who also failed to stop. - The incident was recorded visually and audibly on my bike camera, with the police being told at the time of reporting, of the video evidence.
The PCC declined to take up my complaint. I can't now remember the reason given, but I was not impressed, So I went straight to the Chief Constable.

 

[AuroraSaab]

Just read the BBC report which says ending the scheme will save £100 million over this parliamentary term. There are only 37 of them. £20 million a year between 37 people ....even with support staff to budget for that seems incredibly poor value for money.

 

[Ian H]

The Devon one is embarrassing. Until recently they had two, or was it three, chief ossifers suspended and under investigation.

 

[All uphill]

The low voting turnout for these posts suggests they are not seen as very important or effective by the public. I'm happy to see them go

 

[AuroraSaab]

Yes, a bit like giving elected mayors a lot of power. The turn out for voting is so low they really have zero mandate from the public to do anything. It's just another layer of troughs to get your nose in.

 

[BoldonLad]

Yes, a bit like giving elected mayors a lot of power. The turn out for voting is so low they really have zero mandate from the public to do anything. It's just another layer of troughs to get your nose in.

Yes, indeed. Locally, we had a PCC (Labour, naturally, we are well in the "red Wall: here), who did nothing of note, except get herself photographed regularly. She has now moved on the be Regional Mayor, with the same result, so far.

 

[AuroraSaab]

It's why I don't favour regional parliaments or elected paid mayors. Parliaments would cost a fortune and would just be another gravy train. I don't doubt that some PCC's worked hard but they aren't generally value for money.

 

[Stevo 666]

Will anybody notice any difference?

 

[Psamathe]

I think it good they be removed. I've never been in favour of the system as implemented.

I'm not against oversight but don't know enough about policing and different regulatory bodies. My disagreement with the PCCs is that in practice they are political party based eg the "Conservative candidate" or the "Labour candidate" and one thing we should never have been doing is putting people with a strong party loyalty, proposed and supported by a party into any sort of Police oversight role.

It might be there is a role for an independent scrutiny and regulatory role but the challenge is finding an appropriate selection method (same challenge as eg House of Lords). Certainly political appointments have a poor track record (eg BBC, Football regulator, etc.).