Met chief warns policing risks failure without major reform

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 6 Nov, 01:27 · Archive

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner is calling for England and Wales to replace 43 police forces with eight to ten regional forces and a National Police Service.

Sir Mark Rowley, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, will warn that policing in England and Wales is 'heading for failure' without urgent reform. He argues the current system of 43 police forces is unable to cope with modern criminals and threats including organised crime groups, fraud networks, cyber-criminals and online child abuse.

Rowley is proposing a three-tier structure: local teams handling neighbourhood issues, eight to ten regional forces sharing specialist resources, and a new National Police Service tackling the most serious crimes. He contends that merging forces would reduce duplication and free up thousands of roles to redirect towards frontline policing. He will say: 'We have 43 overstretched forces trying to do too much, with too little.'

Rowley's proposals follow a consultation launched by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in January. However, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners has questioned whether merging forces is the best way to improve policing, and some rural police and crime commissioners have described the plans as 'political manoeuvring' by larger forces.

How it is being reported

• Met chief warns policing 'heading for failure' without reformSir Mark Rowley will argue that the current system is unable to cope with the sophistication of modern criminals.BBC News · 6 Nov, 01:13
• Met boss warns Britain risks having fewer bobbies on the beat and soaring crime rates unless red tape cut in biggest shake-up of forces in half a centuryMet Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley will today press the case for major police reforms in an effort to cut red tape, keep pace with technology, and increase frontline officersDaily Mail · 6 Nov, 00:07

In this story: Sir Mark Rowley · Shabana Mahmood · Metropolitan Police · Association of Police and Crime Commissioners · England and Wales

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