• Korean Security Journal
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• no.55
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• pp.169-192
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• 2018

This article assesses the recent police reform strategy in England and Wales with the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. Police and Crime Commissioners have a responsibility not just for the police force but also for reducing crime in their area of responsibility. This ensures that their remit runs much more widely than their predecessor body, the police authority. The article goes on to evaluate the nature and extent of crime by making immediate use of survey of local police commanders. The surveys showed that police commands were swamped with minor crime and anti-social offences. The arrival of Police and Crime Commissioners has meant that now police priorities can be more closely aligned to those of the public and where anti-social behaviour is now recognised as impacting on the lives of many residents more significantly than criminal activity. The article highlights the changes introduced by government following the Winsor Review to police pay, pensions and conditions of service. It reflects on the impact of this on both police morale and professional motivation. It suggests that current government policy is now haemorrhaging the police service as increasing numbers of experienced officers are leaving the police service which could ultimately undermine its long-term resilience as a strategic emergency service.