Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce | Police and crime commissioners

The controversial system of police and crime commissioners is to be abolished by the government, the Guardian has learned.

Under the system, introduced under the Conservatives, all 43 police forces covering local areas across England and Wales had to answer to an elected official.

The system, introduced in 2012, was supposed to boost the accountability and performance of police forces.

But critics, especially police chiefs, said the elected officials too often tried to interfere and were ineffective.

The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, had been considering scrapping PCCs for some time, as had her predecessor, Yvette Cooper.

The next elections for PCCs were scheduled for May 2028, and will be abolished. The abolition comes as local government is also being changed.

According to a confidential briefing email, in those areas areas getting elected mayors, they will take over the functions of PCCs.

Details are expected to be announced imminently about what the replacement for PCCs will be, and how much money ministers hope to save.

More details soon …