Marc Jones, Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), has voiced staunch criticism against the government’s recent move to get rid of the PCC role. He contends that the decision to hand over policing responsibilities to local councils will fail to improve transparency or democratic accountability. The sudden nature of the verdict surprised Mr Jones, who had only 30 minutes to digest the information and notify his staff.
On BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Mr Jones raised doubts about the absence of a directly elected mayor in Lincolnshire and questioned the rationale of replacing an elected position with a figure appointed by the council. He commented, ‘Transferring these duties to a panel in Lincolnshire just doesn’t make any sense,’ shining a light on the potential loss of public accountability and familiarity.
The PCC role, forged 12 years ago, places annual budgeting responsibility on PCCs, endows them with the power to appoint chief constables, and mandates them to devise policing plans. The government’s proposed reform is set to assign these responsibilities to council leaders or elected mayors by 2028. The Home Office has indicated that this could potentially save £20 million per year for frontline policing. Despite this, Mr Jones remains doubtful, arguing that the move will eventually lead to a ‘much less transparent and democratic approach’.
Jonathan Evison, Humberside’s PCC, shared sentiments of commitment to maintaining continuity and public safety, assuring that until the role’s dissolution in 2028, efforts to sustain their Police and Crime Plan will continue. The aim of this transition is to bolster policing and preserve public safety across Lincolnshire and beyond.
This article is based on original reporting by BBC News.
