PCCs warn police reforms risk weakening democratic accountability
Police and crime commissioners have warned that government plans to restructure policing could weaken democratic accountability and distance forces from the communities they serve.
In a submission to the Independent Review of Police Force Structures led by former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Hogan-Howe, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) said proposals for larger regional police forces risk creating expensive and disruptive “mega-forces” that would undermine local policing relationships and public trust.
The intervention comes days after the King’s Speech confirmed plans for the biggest policing reforms in decades, including the abolition of PCCs, the creation of fewer larger police forces and the establishment of a new National Police Service.
The APCC said it did not support a “system-wide review” of police force structures and warned that large-scale mergers would be “expensive”, “drawn-out” and unlikely to improve services for local communities. The submission also criticised what it described as an excessively “top down” approach to policing reform driven from the centre.
APCC chair Emily Spurrell said: “Police and Crime Commissioners believe a hugely complex and expensive reorganisation of police force structures risks the successful delivery of police reform. The creation of much larger force areas means disconnecting policing from democratic oversight and from the local communities they serve.”
The APCC repeatedly stresses throughout its submission that policing reform should not focus solely on operational capability and force structures, but also on prevention, victims, partnership working and community confidence.
It warns that “super-forces” could dilute accountability, weaken local partnerships and reduce the ability of communities to influence policing priorities.
The APCC also argues that increasing reliance on council tax funding for policing means the principle of “no taxation without representation” must remain central to any future governance model.
While opposing large-scale force mergers, the submission also acknowledges that reform of national policing structures may still be necessary, including stronger regional operational capabilities and a more effective National Police Service.
However, the APCC argues these changes should not come at the expense of local democratic oversight. Ms Spurrell added: “The police reform programme is a once in a generation opportunity to create a modern and effective police service in which the public can trust.
“The disruption and expense of force restructuring will do nothing to make communities safer, and we urge the government to think again.”