Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Jonathan Evison (Conservative) found out his role was being abolished by a WhatsApp message from a colleague. Mr Evison stated this at the latest Humberside Police and Crime Panel, the first since it was announced all PCCs will go when their terms end in 2028.
The Humberside PCC, in the elected role since 2021, told the panel he “will look on with interest from the beach that I’m going to be sitting on in two-and-a-half years time” how what replaces him will work. It is not certain what that will be.
However, the panel heard it is likely to be a board of between four and 11 members, involving representation from the different councils in the Humberside region, the two regional Mayors, and up to two co-opted members. This would then appoint a local policing lead.
There may also be a host local authority for the board. The Office for Police and Crime Commissioner’s (OPCC) chief executive, Rachel Cook, stated that colleagues “are working directly with the Home Office” to try and work out the transition arrangements for the changeover.
“I’ve never been abolished before,” said PCC Evison, reflecting on the news. “It was completely out of the blue,” he said. “I got on my diary an invite at 6:45 the day before the announcement.”
He could not attend due to a safeguarding function involving the Tigers Trust he was already committed to. The Office for Police and Crime Commissioner’s (OPCC) chief executive, Rachel Cook, went in his place.
PCC Evison said he checked his phone and “I found out I was being abolished by WhatsApp, not a nice thing.” He estimated there are 30-32 people directly and indirectly employed in roles linked to the PCC.
There was a push for a delay in the Government’s announcement of PCCs’ abolition, so staff could be informed face-to-face. It was pushed back an hour and 20 minutes later than planned.
This allowed some affected Humberside PCC-linked staff to be informed face to face, but “only about a third”, said PCC Evison. “I think generally people were, disgusted I think it’s too strong a term, but I will use it.”
Cllr Paul Smith (Liberal Democrat – East Riding) asked who sent the WhatsApp message. PCC Evison clarified, “It was from a colleague who was in the meeting informing other colleagues that we’d been abolished.”
He and his office will continue to carry out its work over the remaining two-and-a-half years. “We are focused, we’ve still got lots of commissioning that will still be live even if it does change over to a board.”
PCC Evison criticised the basis for the decision to abolish PCCs. “Unfortunately, the information that the Home Secretary has been relying on is from the National Police Chiefs’ Council.” He asserted that information dated to 2012 on finance and duties of the PCC and the role had changed considerably since.
“Nobody knows who their Police and Crime Commissioner is, that’s true,” he acknowledged of Government criticism of PCCs’ low public recognition. But he said this was similar for council leaders and MPs.
He also questioned the financial value of the move. “I do worry about the finances of police forces,” he said, claiming that much of the money saved from abolishing PCCs was “going into the NHS”.
£20m will be invested in policing, which “sounds like a lot but is across 43 forces”. This would go towards neighbourhood policing, which he welcomed.
However, he believed Humberside Police’s share would result in about five extra officers. PCC Evison also worried that OPCC funding could be eaten into, if not properly ringfenced.
He thanked all who have participated in the panel. Cllr Smith asked, “What will this really mean for our residents on the ground?”
He noted parish councils in his area had benefitted from OPCC initiatives. “I would only be speculating Paul, I don’t know,” replied PCC Evison, adding the Government White Paper on future arrangements had been delayed.
By: Ivan Morris Poxton, LDRS
