Home Affairs Committee Chair writes to Home Secretary on Police and Crime Commissioners

The Home Affairs Committee has written to the Home Secretary, Rt Hon James Cleverly MP, with key findings from its inquiry into Police and Crime Commissioners. (letter attached)

The inquiry was set up to examine the impact that Police and Crime Commissioners had made in the decade since they were established. The Committee found that while there had been improvement in public awareness of Police and Crime Commissioners there were still questions around the functions and purpose of the role. 

The Committee has written to the Government, recommending they carry out further work to strengthen the Police and Crime Commissioner model. This includes examining the suitability of measures including establishing a single nationwide statutory Code of Conduct and powers of recall for PCCs similar to other elected positions. It also notes that, if the Government wishes more PCCs to take on responsibility for fire and rescue services, they may have to provide more incentives to do so. 

Publishing the letter, Dame Diana Johnson said: 

“At a time when restoring public trust is a central aim in policing, it is important that we make sure the right framework is in place to hold them to account. We have called on the Government to work with stakeholders to explore whether the role and powers of Police and Crime Commissioners are adequate to achieve this and drive change. At the same time it should ensure that PCCs themselves are fully accountable to the communities they represent.”