The Government has announced today (Thursday 13 November) that the role of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales will be scrapped, with the 41 existing elected officials remaining in post only until the end of their current terms in 2028. Thereafter, their powers will be transferred to regional mayors or council-led policing and crime boards.
This move has significant implications for rural communities. PCCs have provided a direct democratic link between countryside residents and local policing decisions - a link the countryside can ill-afford to lose.
Sarah Lee, Director of Policy for the Countryside Alliance, said:
“This decision risks silencing rural Britain’s voice on policing. PCCs have long been the only direct line between countryside communities and policing decisions. Without them, rural crime, from hare poaching to fly-tipping to organised theft targeting farms will slide further down the priority list. We cannot have a situation where centralisation results in urban priorities dominating, rural areas will end up paying the price.”
The announcement comes at a time when rural crime is already treated as an afterthought. While the Government cites cost savings of around £100 million by 2029 as the rationale for abolishing PCC roles, the Countryside Alliance warns this move risks leaving rural communities with even weaker local accountability and less influence over policing strategies that affect them directly.
What happens next
Under the Government’s plan, PCCs will continue in their roles until the next scheduled elections in 2028, after which responsibility for policing oversight will be transferred to regional or combined authority structures.
The Countryside Alliance will be pressing for clear safeguards to ensure that rural crime remains a national policing priority, and that new governance models include a dedicated rural voice. This forms a key part of our wider campaign, which calls on government to close the disconnect with rural communities and build a policy framework where countryside voices are heard and influence decisions.
Rural residents, businesses and community groups are encouraged to share their experiences of local policing to help shape the Alliance’s response to the changes ahead.