Abolish 'invisible' Police Commissioner instead of reviewing their remit

Reacting to today's announcement that the Government are reviewing the roles, powers and responsibilities of elected Police and Crime Commissioners, Sunderland Liberal Democrats have called for the positions to be scrapped entirely.

Opposition Lib Dems on Wearside say the cost of holding elections as well as the money associated with paying the Commissioner, their office, support staff and their expenses would be better spent on frontline policing instead.

Scheduled elections for Police and Crime Commissioners are due to take place across England and Wales in May 2021 - a year later than expected as the May 2020 elections were postponed due to COVID-19.

An announcement about the review into Police Commissioners was made to the House of Commons today by Policing Minister Kit Malthouse.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat campaigner for Grindon and Thorney Close Paul Edgeworth said:

"When it comes to crime, Sunderland has been hit particularly hard by cuts from central government and inept political leadership at local level from the Northumbria Commissioner - getting a raw deal on things like the downgrading of our city centre police station to a tiny shop front on Waterloo Place.

"That's why people are understandably furious about the expense of paying for an invisible and ineffective Police and Crime Commissioner, her office, expenses and elections to a post that hardly anyone bothers to vote in.

"Instead of a lengthy review the positions should be scrapped entirely. Taxpayers money that goes on the Commissioner, senior salaries, self-promotion and costly elections would be far better invested in frontline policing."

"People want more police - not more politicians."