In a sweeping move to modernise the policing landscape, the UK government has announced plans to significantly reduce the number of police forces across England and Wales. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to unveil the details of this ambitious reform next week, which aims to create a more efficient and effective law enforcement system.
The current model of 43 independent police forces has been criticised as bureaucratic and wasteful, with each force maintaining its own headquarters, management teams, and back-office staff. Ministers believe that the performance of these smaller forces varies too widely, and they are less equipped to handle serious and organised crime or respond to major incidents.
The proposed changes will see the creation of ‘mega-forces’, with the number of forces expected to be reduced substantially. These larger, consolidated units will be tasked with tackling serious and organised crime, as well as complex cases such as murder and drug-related offences.
Alongside the restructuring of police forces, the government also plans to establish Local Policing Areas in every borough, town, and city across England. These localised units will focus on neighbourhood policing, working closely with communities to address issues such as shoplifting, phone theft, and drug dealing – the “everyday offences” that often go unpunished due to stretched police resources.
“Where you live will no longer determine the outcomes you get from your force,” a government source said, emphasising the aim to provide a more consistent and equitable policing service across the country.
The proposed reforms have been met with a mixed response from police leaders. Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, has voiced support for the changes, stating that “crime is changing, technology is evolving, and we need to be set up in the best possible way to tackle crime in the modern world.”
However, the Policing Federation, which represents officers from the rank of constable to chief inspector, has raised concerns. “Fewer forces doesn’t guarantee more or better policing for communities,” a spokesperson said, emphasising the need for significant investment in skills, capabilities, and equipment to ensure the reforms deliver tangible improvements.
The government has acknowledged the “epidemic of everyday offences” that often go unpunished, and they believe the proposed changes will empower the police to regain control on the streets and restore public confidence.
The precise details of the new policing framework are yet to be determined, as an independent review will be announced to examine the specifics. However, the government is determined to push ahead with what it sees as the “largest reform of policing in decades,” aiming to create a more efficient, effective, and responsive law enforcement system for the modern era.
