Political | Posted on November 14th, 2025 | return to news

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner to be abolished by Labour

The government has announced it is scrapping Police and Crime Commissioners. Dorset’s PCC David Sidwick has responded.

The Labour government has announced plans to abolish elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) throughout the country.

Existing PCCs will serve out their current term, which ends in 2028, after which their powers will be transferred to regional elected mayors or council leaders, who will lead new policing and crime boards.

PCCs were first elected in 2012 during the Liberal Democrat–Conservative coalition government.

Policing Minister Sarah Jones told the House of Commons that the cuts would save £100m by the end of 2029. She said PCCs do important work and thanked those who have held the role, but claimed the model “has weakened local police accountability and has had perverse impacts on the recruitment of chief constables.”

Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick has published a response to the plans. He said: “The announcement from the Home Office is beyond disappointing for many reasons.

“To announce this without any consultation or satisfactory advanced warning, and with no tangible detailed plans for how scrutiny of Dorset Police will happen beyond 2028, is baffling. This move raises more questions over the future of accountability in policing than it answers.

“I utterly refute the criticism that PCCs are a so-called ‘failed experiment’. When done properly, with a strategic Police and Crime Plan where priorities are set by the people and enacted on their behalf, this works. This is what PCCs should be doing: acting on behalf of the public, as we are doing in Dorset.

“I urgently call on the Home Secretary to show me the details of how they intend to continue the necessary level of scrutiny policing requires, as well as how they plan to continue to provide the same level of service to prevent crime, reduce reoffending and support victims. Reassurance on this final matter alone is vital and imperative.

“I fear these new arrangements will only benefit large metropolitan areas, as we have seen with the funding formula, and once again leave Dorset and other more rural counties behind. Local priorities and expertise will be lost as policing agendas are set by large regions and central government, rather than those who know their counties, and I am deeply concerned that those who will suffer will be the people of Dorset.

“Let me make it clear: while I remain PCC until 2028, every ounce of effort I have will be put into making certain we deliver the Police and Crime Plan set by the people of this county. By holding the Chief Constable to account, overseeing the budget, lobbying for vital changes to the funding formula, and supporting victims of crime, I am focused on delivering for each and every resident to ensure Dorset remains one of the safest places in the country to live, work and visit.”