Police

Abstract

Theresa May consider her police reforms in the period that she was Home Secretary to be one of the outstanding successes of the post-recession public sector reforms. The introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners, reform of HMIC, and the diminution of the institutional power of the police were central to these reforms. These reforms changed the nature of accountability arrangements for the 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales. These forces are controlled locally and deal with the vast majority of crimes, such as robbery, arson, theft, and assault. The analysis suggests that, as in healthcare, the year 2012 was a key turning point. Prior to 2012 accountability, transparency, and public assurance were diminishing, after 2012, we find that it has tended to improve.