Police and crime commissioners to be abolished

... but who will replace them in Wales is unclear

- By ANAHITA HOSSEIN-POUR

POLICE and crime commissioners in Wales and England will be scrapped by the UK Government, it has been announced.

The elected officials were first introduced in 2012 and their responsibilities include setting budgets for their police forces and appointing the most senior officer - the chief constable - for their area.

Labour's Andy Dunbobbin currently holds the role of North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner.

But ministers plan to abolish the role in 2028 when the next elections are set to be held to save at least £100 million and help fund neighbourhood policing.

Instead, mayors and council leaders in England will take up the responsibilities of policing arrangements.

It is unclear how this will work in Wales as the nation doesn't have regional mayors like England.

Policing minister Sarah Jones announced the move in the Commons on Thursday, telling MPs that the model has shown little sign of improving confidence in policing.

She said less than a quarter of voters turned out to vote for them in the 2024 elections, and two in five people are "unaware PCCs even exist".