The role of Police and Crime Commissioners will be scrapped, saving the taxpayer at least £100 million. 

The position will be absorbed by existing mayors and council leaders and the funds saved will be reinvested into neighbourhood police on the beat by cutting the cost of the role. 

MP for North West Leicestershire Amanda Hack has welcomed this news, saying it will 'save the tax payer millions, as well as help fund our vital frontline services, which will be our priority. 

'The role was an experiment introduced by the Lib Dem-Tory Coalition, with the current PCC [for Leicestershire and Rutland] being mired in controversy. 

Amanda Hack MP welcomes abolition of the role of Police and Crime Commissioners (Photo: Amanda Hack MP)

'This has distracted from the priorities that matter to my constituents, like restoring a local police station and expanding neighbourhood policing, which is something I will continue to push for.' 

'Whilst I understand the strong feeling from the former Conservative and now Reform PCC for Leicestershire on the abolition of his role, it seems he is already at odds with his new party, who welcomed the announcement in the Commons this afternoon.' 

In response to Amanda Hack, PCC Rupert Matthews told Nub News, 'I was pleased to learn that Ms Hack supports my drive to introduce new and innovative ways for the public to contact the police and to improve local policing. 

'To that end, rather than engage in political point scoring, perhaps she could use her unique access to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to urge improved funding for policing in next week's budget. 

'I would also urge her to use any influence she may have to persuade this Labour government to make a decision on Local Government Reorganisation in Leicestershire so that those of us who care about ensuring a smooth transition of powers and responsibilities can start work rather than leaving it to the last minute, which seems to be her government's preferred strategy, bringing chaos and confusion into our public services.' 

In a public statement shared by Matthews upon the announcement of the abolition of PCCs, he said: 'This is a dark day for the concept of policing by consent.' 

'We are seeing yet another proposal from a Government in free-fall. There has been no consultation, there is no clarity in [the] announcement, just a last-minute dot com idea produced on the back of the proverbial cigarette packet. 

'It is a retrograde step that will see policing becoming increasingly detached from the public as it is there to service and will merely encourage two-tier policing that is so destructive to cohesive communities. 

'However, I'm sure this will be a very popular move with Chief Constables who have never liked the level of public scrutiny provided by Police and Crime Commissioners. They would much rather run their police forces and spend taxpayers' money without any oversight.' 

Since 2012, Police and Crime Commissioners have been elected to hold forces to account but knowledge of the public about their local PCC and poll turn out has been very low. 

Now, the Labour Government has decided to absorb PCCs into the role of regional mayor, making measures to cut crime part of a wider public service, like health and education. 

In areas without a regional mayor, this role will be taken on by elected council leaders.