Bedfordshire’s police and crime commissioner (PCC), John Tizard, has declined to respond directly to renewed criticism of the county’s policing performance.

His office instead referred the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) to previously published documents rather than responding to specific allegations made in a video by the Luton Community Watch Champions.

The video emphasises the group’s concerns about neighbourhood policing, including allegations that the force has failed to provide a consistent and visible local policing presence.

It also questions the PCC’s support for senior officers. “It is indefensible for PCC John Tizard to commend failure and assert that residents have been well served,” according to the film.

When contacted by the LDRS, commissioner Tizard’s spokesperson declined to comment on the video’s content, which referred to his term in office.

Instead, they referred to a press release from April 10, 2025 and the agenda for a Police and Crime Panel meeting on April 1, 2025.

While those documents outline broad strategies, including £1.8 million in funding for additional neighbourhood officers and police community support officers (PCSO), they do not directly address the claims made in the video.

In a campaign statement in April 2024, the PCC, who was then a candidate, stated: “I truly believe that accountability, transparency, and information on the performance of both the PCC and the police is a primary duty of a PCC.”

The PCC has previously defended his oversight record, which includes publishing minutes from governance meetings and one-on-one sessions with the Chief Constable.

The OPCC has recently reduced the amount of information published on its website.

Bedfordshire Police were also approached for comment, but they directed the LDRS to the PCC’s office.

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