يحاول ذهب - حر

Plan to scrap elected police chiefs 'will harm crime prevention'

January 04, 2026

|

The Observer

Elected police chiefs have accused the government of relying on “insubstantial evidence” after plans to scrap the roles were announced.

- John Simpson Home Affairs Editor

The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said directly elected police and crime commissioners (PCCs), introduced in 2012, were a “failed experiment”. Their powers will be handed to elected mayors or new “local police and crime boards”.

PCCs have long been accused of being irrelevant, expensive and ineffective. Early on, they faced heavy criticism over expenses ~ the PCC of Cumbria was forced to repay £700 spent on chauffeurs in 2013 — while turnout was incredibly low at elections: Staffordshire recorded a turnout of just 11.6% in 2012.

However, Emily Spurrell, the PCC for Merseyside and chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said: “We fear that the best elements of the model, which is still evolving, will be lost in the name of police reform.”

المزيد من القصص من The Observer

The Observer

The Observer

Stripping citizenship with such ease tears at the moral fabric of society

\"A transcendental power more than ought to be entrusted to any man.\" So observed Lord Houghton in 1870 during a parliamentary debate over William Gladstone's proposal to revoke the citizenship of any naturalised Briton whose actions were \"inconsistent with his allegiance as a British subject\".

time to read

3 mins

January 04, 2026

The Observer

The Observer

In capitalism’s casino, tech’s a surer bet

Britain invests too little.

time to read

4 mins

January 04, 2026

The Observer

The Observer

Marty Supreme effect looks set to bounce table tennis into fashion

Players and fans hope the hit film, and the arrival of the world championships in London, will take the sport to another level

time to read

3 mins

January 04, 2026

The Observer

The Observer

If Osborne had stood up to Cameron on the Brexit poll, we'd not be in such a mess

As more and more people become aware of the catastrophe that is Brexit, with — as I reported last time - even former chancellor George Osborne suggesting reentry to the customs union, the dilatory nature of the government's “realignment” efforts is becoming embarrassing.

time to read

3 mins

January 04, 2026

The Observer

When life is a rollercoaster, celebrate the highs

As the new year gets under way, try to keep your glasses half full

time to read

2 mins

January 04, 2026

The Observer

'We are putting barriers in the way of getting the most talented scientists'

When he was a child, Paul Nurse walked through a park to school on his own every day.

time to read

8 mins

January 04, 2026

The Observer

The Observer

Zack Polanski’s migration policies aren’t naive — they are dangerously misleading

In a skilfully written article for The Observer last week, Zack Polanski, the leader of the Green party, spoke movingly of “the people who have lost everything”, waiting in “makeshift migrant camps” in Calais, hoping “that Britain might still honour its word and its values”.

time to read

5 mins

January 04, 2026

The Observer

Russia is numb to this conflict

Over the past three and a half years, it has become a familiar sight on the outskirts of Russian towns; long lines of fresh graves covered by wreaths in the colours of the Russian flag - and beneath them, Russian soldiers killed ina war in Ukraine that shows little sign, despite efforts, of ending.

time to read

2 mins

January 04, 2026

The Observer

No end in sight for Yemen's nightmare as UAE and Saudi Arabia's proxy conflict continues

A full-scale military confrontation between the two former allies was narrowly avoided last week. But the outlook for the Yemeni people caught in the middle is as dire as ever, reports Iona Craig

time to read

4 mins

January 04, 2026

The Observer

The Observer

Royal Mail’s efforts to repackage its logistics problem have arrived too late Martha Gill

Universal mail once connected the country ata flat, affordable price now, as letters fade and parcels boom, rivals take the profits

time to read

4 mins

January 04, 2026

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size