Have Police and Crime Commissioners been good for women? Will we miss them when they are gone?

[IwantToRetire]

Police and crime commissioners (PCC) are to be scrapped in England and Wales to save £100m over this parliament's term, the government has said.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93d4dd3l3lo

APCC Chair responds to announcement of the abolition of Police and Crime Commissioners
https://www.apccs.police.uk/apcc-chair-responds-to-announcement-of-the-abolition-of-police-and-crime-commissioners/

I'm not sure they've been anything, really. My recollection is that the Tory govt introduced them as a way to shuffle off responsibility for police failings. 'Make someone directly elected responsible, that way we don't take the flack'. Similar motivations seemed to influence their NHS reforms and their attitude to local govt.

The commissioners were always just white noise. I'm glad they are going.

Never saw the point of them.

In Manchester Burnham got rid of them ages ago. He decided to make his mate Kate Green (women should just try harder - against TW in sports) - deputy mayor, and gave her the role of Policing. Very clever of him, she gets to do the dirty work, and if things go wrong - she gets the blame.

Have to admit nothing sprang to mind that would show they were of benefit to women.

Although I think some GC women had hoped they would be a way to get police to stop punishing women for standing up for their rights.

AI says there was one:

Alison Townsend, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Gwent in Wales, is a notable example of a police commissioner who has publicly and actively supported women's sex-based rights.

Shouldn't that be Lisa Townsend, PCC for Surrey?

Probably! I thought I sounded strange, but just goes to show dont trust AI.

I suspect Caroline Farrow would disagree about Lisa T.

In July, I emailed our PCC for Hampshire and IOW Constabulary, Donna Jones, whether the Hampshire police had any involvement with Pride and mentioned the events in Surrey and Lisa Townsend. No response from Ms Jones but her assistant said she would ask the police. I have had no response from the police either despite reminding the office of the PCC several times.
Surprising really as Ms Jones is a tory and is standing to be mayor for the area.
I thought it was just the sort of policy area the of which PCC should be aware and influencing.

Ours has grant schemes that fund women’s organisations around violence against women, and has undertaken partnership work to improve public sector services for women, but it just depends whether these will now be taken up by the new authority. It could just be one of many things that the local authority has to do and might get lost in everything else, especially in areas that are going through local government reorganisation and will be doing a lot of internal reshuffling.

This is wrong, there has never been a Gwent commissioner by this name.

I went to try and get the same response as I could then have commented, but as I said indicates how flakey AI is.

I had thought this had been one of the benefits. That funding had been directly given to women's organisations.

My concern was more that this decision police will be answerable to Mayors or local councils.

These are all too often under the control of one political party or the other, and then decisions, critical oversight, etc., then become party political.

And suspect if there is funding, little of it will go to women.

They were never anything more than a cunning trick by the Conservative to create more well-paid politician jobs, hence more money for the political class.

I suppose some women must have benefited: the ones who were PCCs themselves. Though where I am we've always had men, I'm not even sure if any women have ever even been on the ballot.

I got my hopes up there, a Public Servant, a woman, in Wales standing up for women, but no it was a mistake, no such thing in Wales. 🤬

I don’t think many people will be sad to see them go. Their impact has been minimal. They certainly haven’t captured the hearts and minds of the electorate.

PCCs were originally intended to be a ‘sheriff’ type role but as is always the way with Parliament it was watered down to please more people. They were to replace the Police Councils and ensure elected accountability for local forces.

Ours has been brilliant on modern slavery and VAWG. (Devon & Cornwall).

Im not even sure if we are getting a mayor yet so not sure how it will work here.

Our inaugural PCC was married to the Tory MP, and was promptly arrested for multiple speeding offences of the fuck you plebs kind. It's been hard to get on board.

the Gwent PCC is Jane Mudd, she has done nothing for women or anyone. The office of PCC is one big gravy train. This a good move by govt to get rid. The previous ( unpaid) police authorities did a far better job.

I've contacted PCCs over womens rights. They were supposed to hold the police to account and zero evidence that they have ever done a thing. Total waste of money as far as I can tell.

If anyone knows of anything useful any of them have ever done please speak out.

Now when can we see the waste of money on trans everything being reduced?

Lisa Townsend Tory Surrey PCC, has been brilliant for women's rights,

Ours has actually been good, funding we've never had before for the vawg strategy, stalking panels established for pre and post conviction, funding available for women's only services etc. A women's services board to co-ordinate partnership working. Safer urban design supported by the fire brigade, pilots of women's charters in some of the CSPs. A new women's centre etc all week supported financially by the pfcc, and he's a man and he's a Tory!! His dep is a woman and he's wise enough to listen to women with expertise. I can see how it could be very hit and miss though.

Yes she has been good, wasn’t it her that challenged Surrey pride and raised her concerns with both the chief Constable and head of Surrey social services?

Was anything changed by Lisa Townesend?