The Government has revealed its reform of the Home Office would see police authorities abolished, and directly-elected local police commissioners in power within England and Wales in two years time.
The department's business plan for 2011-2015, published this week, said a Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill would be introduced in December, to pave the way for directly-elected police and crime commissioners. Preparations for the first elections would then take place before the polls in May 2012.
