Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Rani Mahal to Resign

The deputy police and crime commissioner for Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland is resigning from her position. Rani Mahal, who was initially appointed in 2022, had consented to remain in the role after Conservative Rupert Matthews secured re-election as police and crime commissioner (PCC) in May. Mahal’s departure from the position was confirmed during a Monday meeting of the Police and Crime Panel, the body responsible for overseeing the PCC’s activities. During the meeting, she stated that her decision was prompted by the anticipated increase in intensity of her duties as a Harborough District councillor, explaining that her work would become “increasingly intense as work around the unprecedented levels of housing development increases”. The Conservative councillor further commented: “I want to work as hard as I can for the residents of Harborough.” During the same meeting, the PCC commended his deputy, stating she had accomplished “a huge amount of work over those two years.” He further remarked: “She’s been absolutely invaluable to me.” When questioned about the appointment of a successor, a spokesperson for the PCC indicated that Matthews is “considering the way forward…but considers he needs the capacity for one.”