In the most significant restructuring of policing in England and Wales for over half a century, 43 separate police forces are set to be consolidated into just 15. The landmark proposal, revealed ahead of a government White Paper, aims to create a more efficient and nationally coordinated service capable of confronting modern criminal threats.
A System "Crying Out for an Overhaul"
The radical plan has received backing from two of the country's most senior police figures. Sir Mark Rowley, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and Gavin Stephens, Chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council, have publicly argued that the current structure, largely unchanged since the 1964 Police Act, is outdated and inefficient.
Writing jointly, they stated that the existing model of 43 forces, overlaid with regional collaborations and national units, creates a "thicket" of inefficiency. They advocate for the creation of between 10 to 15 "fully capable forces", each large enough to sustain vital specialist functions like murder investigations, firearms operations, and serious organised crime units.
Driving Forces Behind the Merger
Proponents believe the consolidation will enable a more joined-up approach to crime-fighting across borders. Key anticipated benefits include:
- Better targeting of organised crime and terrorism: Gangs and terrorists often operate across force boundaries, which a more centralised model could combat more effectively.
- Addressing chronic harms: Systemic issues like violence against women and the epidemic of online fraud require a consistent, national response.
- Eliminating duplication: Merging support services and specialist functions could free up capacity equivalent to "thousands of officers and staff."
- Harnessing modern technology: Centralising computer systems, AI tools, and CCTV analysis would be more efficient and allow for faster national roll-out of proven tech, unlike the current system where all 43 forces test software individually.
"These threats affect us all locally, but they can't be tackled locally. We need a strong national and international response," the senior officers emphasised.
The Path Forward and Potential Impact
The formal proposals are due to be outlined in the government's Policing Reform White Paper at the end of this month. While this is the first time such a move will be proposed in an official government White Paper, the model mirrors the successful consolidation in Scotland, where eight forces merged to form Police Scotland in April 2013.
Police insiders suggest that smaller forces will be most affected, while larger entities like the Metropolitan Police are expected to remain largely unchanged. Crucially, it is understood that the reforms are not anticipated to result in job losses for rank-and-file officers. Instead, the plan advocates for greater use of artificial intelligence to reduce administrative burdens and desk time, putting more officers on visible patrols.
Reflecting on the urgent need for change, Sir Mark and Mr Stephens concluded: "The aims are simple: resilient local policing making people feel safer, a national force that is better able to meet the full range of complex threats, reduced waste, a service empowered by the best of modern technology... Sixty years on from the last major changes we must act swiftly or slowly fail."
