Police and crime chief role axed in shake-up

MATTHEW Barber, the Thames Valley police and crime commissioner, said he is “disappointed” by the decision to scrap the role.

The government has decided to do away with the 37 elected commissioners under the current system, which was introduced 12 years ago to improve police accountability.

Their main responsibilities include setting an annual budget, appointing chief constables and producing a policing plan.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood called the system a “failed experiment” with the government expecting to save £100m over the course of this parliament.

Mr Barber said: “I am, of course, disappointed with the Government’s decision to abolish the role.

“However, my primary concern is that I continue to work with the police to further drive down crime while I remain in my role and, of course, for the staff in my office who are affected and face a period of uncertainty.

“Since being in office, I and my staff in the have achieved a great deal to improve the accountability and scrutiny of policing.

“We have worked with the force to deliver efficiencies and improvements in service for our local communities and engaged and led local partners across criminal justice to create safer communities and improve support for victims of crime.”

He added: “It’s important to state that there is still over two years before the transition to the Government’s new model takes place. I will continue to work constructively with the Chief Constable during this period, on issues such as knife crime, tackling shoplifting and reducing vehicle crime.”

Mr Barber was re-elected as crime commissioner, a role he has held since 2021, last year.

He won 144,092 votes across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire, securing a majority of 2,300 over Labour’s Tim Starkey, who finished second with 141,749 votes.

Policing minister Sarah Jones told the House of Commons on Thursday last week that the model has “failed to live up to expectations” and “It has not delivered what it was set up to achieve.”

Ms Jones also said that public understanding of and engagement with the police and crime commissioners remains low, despite efforts to raise their profile.

She added: “Less than a quarter of voters turned out to vote for them in the 2024 elections and two in five people are unaware police and crime commissioners even exist.”

When the commissioners’ terms end in 2028 the role will move to an elected mayor or to council leaders.

The Thames Valley area does not currently have an elected mayor but discussions on local government re-organisation are taking place locally.

Ms Jones said: “In areas where plans do not yet allow for a transfer of policing to a mayor in this parliament, we will establish new policing and crime boards to bring council leaders together to oversee the police force in their area until such time as mayors are in place in England.”