Plans unveiled for new national police service to tackle complex crimes and lift burden off local forces

Shabana Mahmood said for too long, local police forces have been burdened by national policing responsibilities, diverting time and resources away from fighting everyday offences – such shoplifting, drug dealing, phone theft, and anti-social behaviour.

They are also unequipped to fight the most complex and serious crimes such as terrorism, fraud and organised crime that are not constrained by force or even national boundaries, she said.

Ms Mahmood said the new National Police Service – dubbed “the British FBI” – will attract world-class talent and use state-of-the-art technology to fight complex and serious crimes, lifting the burden on overstretched local forces and allowing them to focus on catching local criminals.

The service will bring the capabilities of the National Crime Agency, Counter Terrorism Policing, Regional Organised Crime Units, police helicopters and National Road Policing under a single organisation.

As one force, it will be better equipped to share technology, intelligence and resources to stop the growing threat from crime that has become increasingly complex, digital, online and with no respect for constabulary borders, Ms Mahmood said.

A National Police Commissioner will be appointed to lead the force and will serve as the most senior police officer in the country.

Ms Mahmood, said: “The current policing model was built for a different century.

“Some local forces lack the skills or resources they need to fight complex modern crime such as fraud, online child abuse or organised criminal gangs.

“We will create a new National Police Service – dubbed ‘the British FBI’ – deploying world class talent and state of the art technology to track down and catch dangerous criminals.

“In doing so, local forces will be able to spend more time fighting crime in their communities.”

She said the reforms will make sure policing remains a local public service, against a backdrop of increasingly complex, serious crime. The creation of the National Police Service will enable local forces to spend more time fighting crime in their local communities.

National resources are scattered around the country. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is responsible for counter-terrorism policing, West Yorkshire Police for police helicopters and Sussex Police for National Roads Policing. These responsibilities will all be folded in the National Police Service, said Ms Mahmood.

She added that the new service will also make sure the public receives the “same service from the police, no matter where they live”.

Firstly, it will take over the role of setting professional standards and training requirements for policing, making sure every officer in the country is subject to the same high standards the public expect.

This new force will also make sure every force has access to the best possible technology, purchasing new tech and equipment on behalf of all forces. This will include technology such as facial recognition – which has allowed the MPS to make more than 1,700 arrests in two years.

The National Police Service will also enable new innovations and best practice to be rolled out faster right across the forces.

In a joint statement, Counter Terrorism Policing, the MPS and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said: “Our organisations operate in an environment where crime is becoming increasingly complex, digitally enabled and dangerous. Terrorism, hostile state activity and organised criminal networks are now more interconnected than ever, demanding a policing model that is agile, capable and resilient.

“Modern crime requires a modern policing response. We support and have been calling for this ambitious step to bring together some of the most capable policing teams in the country into a single National Police Service.

“This builds on the high international regard that already exists amongst partners for Counter Terrorism Policing, whose capabilities and professionalism are recognised globally.

“This transformation, however, must be delivered with care. Its success depends on maintaining strong connections with local policing and the communities we serve.

“Neighbourhood officers remain indispensable in disrupting organised crime and countering terrorism. Their relationships, insights and presence on the ground are foundational to public safety.

“As we implement this reform programme, protecting those vital local links will be essential to ensuring the new National Police Service strengthens – not separates – the bond between policing and the public.”

Neil Basu QPM, former head of Counter Terrorism Policing said: “A national police service will bring long-needed integration of multiple agencies, processes, systems and decision making bodies and be far more capable as one national security system dealing more effectively with major crime, organised crime and terrorism in all its forms.

“The road to such a fundamental change is clearly a long one with many obstacles but it is brilliant to see a Home Office and Home Secretary willing to get back in the driver’s seat and think long term and in the best interests of a safer UK. The prime responsibility of a government should be the safety and security of its citizens and that starts with the safety and security of the streets where you live and work.”

Association of Police and Crime Commissioners chair Emily Spurrell said while it supports the introduction of a National Police Service to enable consistency and drive performance, it brings “enormous risks”.

She said policing must be “rooted in the local communities it serves”.

“This planned structure will place unprecedented power in the hands of just two people at the centre – the Home Secretary and the Commissioner of the new National Police Service,said Ms Spurrell.

“This concentration of policing power in England and Wales is constitutionally alien and brings enormous risks. It must be balanced by robust scrutiny and oversight, involving both local operational leaders and those who are the public’s voice in policing – deputy mayors and the successor to police and crime commissioners (PCCs).

“There is also a risk that the National Police Service could stifle local innovation and restrict the ability of local communities to shape how policing affects their lives, and large regional forces risk weakening local responsiveness and accountability, while introducing unnecessary complexity and cost.

“We also urgently need confirmation that vital local services currently delivered by PCCs and deputy mayors will be protected. Services such as victim support, crime prevention and offender management are all critical to delivering the government’ s Safer Streets mission.

“We will continue to work with ministers to ensure the voices of the public and victims remain central to the detailed work ahead.”

On Monday the Home Secretary is expected to announce the largest reforms to policing since the police service was founded 200 years ago.

In a White Paper titled ‘From local to national: a new model for policing’, Ms Mahmood is expected to outline a radical blueprint for reform, so local forces protect their community, and national policing protects us all. Underpinning the reforms are simple aims to catch criminals, cut crime, and protect the public, she said.

President of the Police Superintendents’ Association, Nick Smart: “We welcome any efforts to strengthen and modernise UK policing.

“We have long called for radical change to ensure our service is equipped with the people, resources, skills and funding to respond to modern day demand, and that the right operational governance and accountability is in place to ensure the best standards.

“Our members deal with the highest levels of threat, risk and harm facing policing and operate with the highest levels of responsibility. Any changes agreed will be delegated to superintendents to deliver.

“Despite this, we have not been consulted with on any of the announcements made so far. Nor has the wider workforce. We represent experts in policing – the most senior operational leaders in our service, and it is essential our views are taken into account alongside those of chief constables and external advisors. We want to support these efforts for change. We want to share the unique insight and expertise of our members to enable this to work.“We have spoken out time and time again on the outdated structure on which policing is based and the severe lack of centralised strategy, long-term funding and workforce support that is so clearly needed. UK policing is exceptional, delivered by brilliant people who are committed to serving the public, but so often they are let down by the complex and underfunded criminal justice system around them. This is an exciting time for positive change.

“It is right therefore, that we look at how every part of our service is set up, so that we can identify the huge potential to do things better.

“However, we continue to stress that it is essential we define the police mission before we progress systemic change. Until we do this and are very clear about the role of the police alongside partner agencies – we remain concerned that reform efforts could fail.”

He added: “There is no true picture of police demand – but we know without doubt that it is overwhelmingly high, and that the majority of it does not relate to crime. The Home Secretary has spoken about ‘local’ issues compared with ‘more serious crime’ – we must be very clear about what this means, as there is a huge amount that sits between these areas, from missing people to complex safeguarding issues. This isn’t just about a restructure of policing – something we are staunch supporters of – it’s about a resetting of our service – drawing a line in the sand and being confident in defining what work should sit with the police. Then, redesign can truly work.

“We also need to understand how these reform efforts will be funded. Policing is working in a huge financial deficit with no sign of added investment. The changes described will require significant funding over a sustained period – where will this come from? Will forces need to fund these changes from their already over-stretched budgets, or will additional central funding be provided?”

Mr Smart said it will take time to understand the “full detail in this long-awaited White Paper”.

“The priority for our association will be to feed back the insight and experience of superintendents who are responsible for both operational and strategic services, to help build a future service that is set up to succeed,” he said.

“We know from the results of the National Wellbeing Service survey that many of our members do not feel confident in how change is currently led and managed from the top. Let’s explore this and understand why superintendents feel this way, so that change is implemented with an engaged and supportive workforce.”