In businesses and the charity sector, it is very common to hold medium term reviews of how well things have gone following a significant change. It is easy enough to give the impression of change over a six month period or even over 18 months if the chairs get moved around significantly enough. However no individual can continue to promote the illusion of change for 3-5 years, if the change has not be meaningful. The same logic applies to reviews of the state repair of buildings, where five yearly or quinquennial reviews are seen as a good way of checking the fabric of the property. In two months time on 15th November we will reach the five year anniversary of the first Police and Crime Commissioner elections. That provides us with a useful time to reflect on how much value has been added or not to the area previously covered by the Police Authorities across England and Wales. The following is an excerpt from a posting  on the Home Office website from July 2012. The reference to Nick Herbert relates to his role as the Policing Minister at the time.

“The government plans to change the current criminal justice system into a service where police, prosecution and courts work more effectively together. This will lead to speedier court cases, improved transparency so the public can understand how the system works and engagement with local communities in dealing with low-level offending. From November elected PCCs will help to forge this change, and with a new responsibility for victims they will want to ensure that crime is tackled effectively and the cycle of re-offending is broken. Nick Herbert said: ‘It is a basic principle of justice that it should be delivered without delay, yet straightforward cases that could be dealt with in days or even hours are taking weeks and months.  Justice delayed is justice denied, and victims are the biggest losers. ‘With a stronger role for magistrates, greater involvement of communities and the drive of elected police and crime commissioners, we will forge a system that grips offenders at the earliest point to prevent the slide into more serious offending. ‘This new focus on delivering swift and sure justice will support the police, give communities a voice, and reduce crime.’

Police and crime commissioners will be in a unique position to help galvanise the local police, prosecution and courts to work together and focus on preventing crime and reducing re-offending. PCCs will also work with local criminal justice partnerships to implement reform on the ground.”

I have seen no evidence that this change has taken place. That is not to say that elements of these systems have not changed, but there is absolutely no indication that PCCs with one or two minor exceptions have made the slightest difference to the working of the Criminal Justice System. It is perhaps time for the Government to consider how they might set out a basis for this change. The need is as great now as it was in 2012.