Police and Crime Commissioners to go in 2028

Police and Crime Commissioners are due to be abolished in 2028. Here is what that could mean for how policing is overseen in Birmingham.

What commissioners do

Police and Crime Commissioners were created by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, replacing police authorities in England and Wales outside London. They are elected to set the police budget and priorities, hire and fire the chief constable and hold the force to account for its performance.

The decision to abolish them

On 13 November 2025, the Government announced that commissioners would be abolished at the end of the current term, in 2028. It said the change would save at least 100 million pounds, which would be put into neighbourhood policing.

In England, their functions will be taken on by regional mayors where possible. Where that is not possible, new policing and crime boards made up of council leaders will oversee forces.

The history in this region

This region has been here before. In 2023 the previous Government decided to transfer the commissioner's powers to the regional Mayor in 2024. That plan did not go ahead after the High Court ruled in March 2024 that the Home Office had not provided enough information when it consulted on the change, following a judicial review brought by the commissioner, Simon Foster.

What could happen now

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, published in 2025, makes mayors responsible for policing and fire services by default where their areas match. That suggests the Mayor, currently Richard Parker, is likely to take on responsibility for the police in 2028, although the details are still to be settled.

Why it matters

Supporters say joining up policing with transport, housing and other services under a mayor can make a difference to crime prevention. Critics warn that it gives a single politician too much power and reduces the direct link between voters and policing.

Until then

The current commissioner remains in office until 2028 and continues to set the force's budget and police and crime plan.