Police and crime commissioner

In the 2010 general election campaign, the manifestos of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats outlined plans, respectively, to replace or reform the existing police authorities.

[16] As of April 2023[update] there are five Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners: for Cumbria, Essex, Staffordshire, North Yorkshire and Northamptonshire.

A police and crime panel may require the attendance of the commissioner or a staff member at any time, and may suspend a PCC from office who is charged with a serious criminal offence.

[21] A National Audit Office report published in January 2014 found that there were "few checks and balances" on the 41 PCCs between elections.

I will act with integrity and diligence in my role and, to the best of my ability, will execute the duties of my office to ensure that the police are able to cut crime and protect the public.

I will give a voice to the public, especially victims of crime and work with other services to ensure the safety of the community and effective criminal justice.

Although police and crime commissioners may stand for a political party, the public will expect them to represent all the people in their area impartially, without fear or favour.

The swearing of an oath will be an important symbol of this impartiality, emphasising both the significance of this new role in local communities and that commissioners are there to serve the people, not a political party or any one section of their electorate.

[citation needed] By the time the first police and crime commissioner had been elected, in November 2012, the original Home Office text of the "Oath of Impartiality" had been significantly modified.

I will act with integrity and diligence in my role and, to the best of my ability, will execute the duties of my office to ensure that the police are able to cut crime and protect the public.

I will give a voice to the public, especially victims of crime, and work with other services to ensure the safety of the community and effective criminal justice.

[13] During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom the Cabinet Office reduced the number of signatures candidates required (The Mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner Elections (Coronavirus, Nomination of Candidates) (Amendment) Order 2021) on nomination forms in order to reduce social interaction.

"[13] Jonathon Seed, the Conservative Party candidate for Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner in the 2021 election, did not take up his post after it was revealed that he had a conviction for an imprisonable offence.

In footage posted online, Seed refused to answer questions put to him by news reporters prior to the election.

[35][36] He was due to stand trial in July 2022, but in June the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges after a pre-trial review on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

[39] Prior to the passage of the Elections Act 2022, the supplementary vote system was used: voters marked the ballot paper with their first and second choices of candidate.

Issues have included conflict between PCCs and chief constables, questions over PCC expenses, the cost of elections and low voter turnout (in some cases, below 15%).

[48] The former Home Secretary Theresa May, who introduced the directly elected commissioners, in 2014, considered the policy to have had mixed success.

[50] The replacement of some PCCs with directly elected mayors is expected to occur as a result of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016.