BASC and the Countryside Alliance have expressed serious concerns following the Government’s announcement that Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales will be abolished.
The Government announced on 13 November that the 41 existing PCCs will remain in post until their terms end in 2028, after which their powers will transfer to regional mayors or council-led policing and crime boards. Ministers cited cost savings of around £100 million by 2029 as justification for the change.
Martin Parker, BASC’s head of firearms, warned that the move threatens accountability for firearms licensing departments: “BASC has grave concerns regarding the abolition of PCCs, as one of their primary roles was to hold Chief Constables to account. Over the past five years, several PCCs have been supportive in securing additional funding for firearms licensing departments.”
He added: “Without PCC oversight, BASC questions how those Chief Constables who fail to allocate proper resources to their failing firearms licensing units will be held to account. This announcement is not good news for the shooting community.”
The Countryside Alliance shared these concerns, warning of wider implications for rural policing. Sarah Lee, the alliance’s director of policy, said: “This decision risks silencing rural Britain’s voice on policing. PCCs have long been the only direct line between countryside communities and policing decisions.”