The MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, Gareth Snell, has welcomed the government's decision to scrap Police and Crime Commissioners. 

This follows Labour's announcement that Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) will be scrapped and replaced with more locally accountable arrangements. 

Under the proposals announced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, responsibility for police oversight will transfer to directly elected mayors or local councils. 

The MP has explained why he supports the government's decision. 

Mr Snell said: "The introduction of police and crime commissioners by the last government was a failed experiment. 

"I welcome the decision to end this costly and ineffective model. It will introduce reform so police are accountable to their local mayoralties or local councils. 

"The savings will fund more neighbourhood police on the beat across the country, fighting crime and protecting our communities." 

The MP explained that the change supports Labour's wider mission to make Britain's streets safer, restore confidence in policing, and ensure that every community has visible, responsive officers. 

He added: "This decision aligns with Labour's commitment to rebuild trust, deliver safer streets, and put policing back where it belongs—at the heart of our communities." 

Staffordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Ben Adams, has also responded to the announcement. 

Mr Adams said: "To add to the weight of challenge that you all have as local government councillors and representatives, you will now have leaders who will be taking responsibility for community safety, setting up a new board to do that and potentially, in the bulk of the country, bringing fire and rescue under that banner too.

"There's real challenges there because Government has yet to clarify the position on the operational independence for fire, and to determine the employer; for fire I remain the employer at the moment, although that needs dealing with.

"The other concern for me is that in places that are going to have the boards, that will mean two transitions – one to a board and then possibly two years later onto a Mayor.

"That doesn't seem like good, efficient effective business to me, that feels like an opportunity for distraction and an opportunity for not a lot to get done.

"I am somewhat concerned that the pace of the last few years will not be repeated beyond 2028 for a while. But in the meantime, some reassurance for the public and businesses in Staffordshire, I'm not going anywhere for the next two and a half years."

The Government is expected to bring forward legislation in the coming months to begin the transition away from the PCC system.