In a major overhaul of the policing system in England and Wales, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to unveil a series of sweeping reforms aimed at tackling what she describes as an “epidemic of everyday offences”. The proposed changes, which government sources have described as the largest shake-up in decades, will see the number of police forces significantly reduced from the current 43.
The remaining, larger forces will be tasked with focusing on serious and organised crime, as well as complex investigations such as homicides. At a local level, each town, city, and borough will be designated as a “local policing area”, where neighbourhood officers will concentrate on community issues like shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.
Ms Mahmood believes the existing system, which requires each of the 43 forces to maintain separate headquarters and administrative staff, leads to a wasteful expenditure of funds that could otherwise be directed towards combating crime. Sources indicate these reforms are designed to generate savings by merging back-office functions, thereby freeing up resources to invest in more police officers.
The reforms also seek to address inconsistencies in performance across forces, with ministers suggesting smaller forces often lack the necessary resources to manage major incidents effectively. Under the new structure, all forces – regardless of their location – will have the tools and resources they need to fight serious crime, ensuring that “where you live will no longer determine the outcomes you get from your force”.
However, the changes will take time to come into effect, with the mergers only expected to be completed by the end of the next Parliament in the mid-2030s. Additionally, the exact number and location of the new forces are yet to be determined, as an independent review will be responsible for making these decisions.
Similar cuts have been proposed before, with then-Labour Home Secretary Charles Clarke announcing plans to cut the number of police forces to 24 in March 2006. However, these proposals were ultimately abandoned by his successor, John Reid, just four months later after the proposed merger of Lancashire and Cumbria police forces collapsed and senior officers turned against the idea.
Allies of Ms Mahmood have stressed her commitment to the reforms, describing her as “a moderniser” who is “not scared of bold reform and a political fight”. However, Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp has expressed skepticism, stating that there is “no evidence” that merging police forces would cut crime or improve performance. He warned that “top-down reorganisation risks undermining efforts to fight crime, inevitably leading to centralised control that will hit towns and villages across the country hardest”.
