ABOLISHING elected police and crime commissioners would do "more harm than good".

That is the view of Ron Ball, Warwickshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, who was responding to Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's speech, at the Labour Party Conference, where she set out plans to scrap the role if the party wins the next General Election.

Mr Ball said: “Police and Crime Commissioners are responsible to the people they serve. For the first time, those responsible for policing are now locally elected and are directly answerable to the electorate.

“We have a crucial role in challenging and supporting Chief Constables, and ensuring that the public know what their police forces are doing to protect people and keep communities safe. However, just as we hold our Chief Constables to account, there must also be a clear framework for PCCs."

He added: “Whilst I agree that the governance of the role requires reform, a lot of good is being achieved across the country. PCCs are delivering real change and ensuring local residents have a powerful voice in the policing of their communities.

“Labour have loudly declared that they would abolish PCCs. I firmly believe it would be a backward step to return to the era of invisible, unelected police authorities during which so many failures of police leadership occurred without any meaningful oversight. There is certainly the case for reform, but abolishing the role completely would ultimately do more damage than good.”