The government’s decision to scrap Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) by 2028 has closed the book on a system that never quite worked.
Brought in twelve years ago under David Cameron’s “Big Society” vision to make policing more accountable, PCCs were supposed to give the public a greater say in how their communities are policed. Yet few people even knew who their commissioner was. The Home Office says fewer than 20% of voters could name theirs. The role will now be absorbed by elected mayors or council leaders – saving £100 million nationally, with £20 million a year promised for front-line policing.
For Harrow, the change could bring policing oversight closer to home. While the Metropolitan Police will remain under the Mayor of London’s authority, the shift opens the door for stronger collaboration between borough councils and local police teams. That could mean better coordination on the issues residents care about most – anti-social behaviour, youth safety, and visible policing.
Harrow Council now has several years to prepare for this new responsibility. It should use that time wisely – to build better partnerships with local police leadership, and to explain clearly to residents how the new arrangements will work. If done well, this could mark a fresh start for how community safety is managed and communicated in our borough.
Still, the government must ensure accountability isn’t lost in the process. Scrapping PCCs without public consultation has raised fears of a democratic gap at a time when trust in policing is already fragile.
Harrow’s leaders now have a chance to shape what comes next. If local government takes a more active role in setting policing priorities and linking them with services like housing and youth work, the community could finally see the joined-up approach it has long called for.
The PCC system may have failed, but its goal was right: giving residents a real say in how their streets are kept safe. Harrow deserves nothing less.
Brought in twelve years ago under David Cameron’s “Big Society” vision to make policing more accountable, PCCs were supposed to give the public a greater say in how their communities are policed. Yet few people even knew who their commissioner was. The Home Office says fewer than 20% of voters could name theirs. The role will now be absorbed by elected mayors or council leaders – saving £100 million nationally, with £20 million a year promised for front-line policing.
For Harrow, the change could bring policing oversight closer to home. While the Metropolitan Police will remain under the Mayor of London’s authority, the shift opens the door for stronger collaboration between borough councils and local police teams. That could mean better coordination on the issues residents care about most – anti-social behaviour, youth safety, and visible policing.
Harrow Council now has several years to prepare for this new responsibility. It should use that time wisely – to build better partnerships with local police leadership, and to explain clearly to residents how the new arrangements will work. If done well, this could mark a fresh start for how community safety is managed and communicated in our borough.
Still, the government must ensure accountability isn’t lost in the process. Scrapping PCCs without public consultation has raised fears of a democratic gap at a time when trust in policing is already fragile.
Harrow’s leaders now have a chance to shape what comes next. If local government takes a more active role in setting policing priorities and linking them with services like housing and youth work, the community could finally see the joined-up approach it has long called for.
The PCC system may have failed, but its goal was right: giving residents a real say in how their streets are kept safe. Harrow deserves nothing less.
Harrow Monitoring Group 