Former MPS commissioner to lead independent review on number of police forces
Former Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Commissioner Lord Bernard Hogan-Howe has been appointed to head up the Independent Review of Police Force Structures that will lead to a smaller number of larger forces across England and Wales.
As set out in the Government’s Police Reform White Paper, the independent review will make evidence-based recommendations on how to restructure policing across England and Wales into fewer, larger forces.
The review will identify the optimum number of forces and the geographic areas they will cover. It will also consider how the new forces are governed and held accountable to ensure the new system is effective in delivering local policing across the country and responding to the priorities of local communities.
Under the new structure, regional forces will carry out complex investigations such as homicide, drugs and County Lines.
The Home Office says fewer, larger forces will ensure each one has the “capacity to meet surges in demand”.
“Bringing together specialist functions such as firearms, roads policing and cybercrime into larger forces will help build expertise and ensure these resources are deployed effectively,” it added.
Within these larger forces, there will be Local Policing Areas focused exclusively on the issues that matter most to residents and businesses, such as shop theft, drug dealing, phone theft and anti-social behaviour. They will be tasked with delivering high-quality local and neighbourhood policing, no matter where they are in the country.
The terms of reference for the review are expected to be confirmed shortly and its recommendations will be given to the Home Secretary by summer.
The Home Office said that as a former MPS Commissioner, chief constable of Merseyside Police, and Inspector of Constabulary, Lord Hogan-Howe “brings extensive experience to this work, whilst also being at a critical distance from the current policing system”.
Responding to the announcement, Association of Police and Crime Commissioners chair Emily Spurrell said: “Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) back much of what is proposed under the Government’s plans to modernise policing, but we have seen no evidence to suggest the public want fewer forces, or that reorganisation would deliver improved services.
“The public want a responsive police force that understands and acts on local priorities. Regional forces will remove the connection to those they serve and who increasingly fund policing through local taxation.
“This review would be better conducted in slower time and separately to the delivery of an already ambitious police reform agenda. As the voice of the public in policing, PCCs and deputy mayors will use the review and the passage of the reform Bill through Parliament to make the case for local communities.
“The objective must be to improve policing for communities across England and Wales and help restore the public’s trust in policing by effectively holding forces to account.”