Herts PCC urges ministers to abandon police merger plans
The police and crime commissioner for Hertfordshire has called on the government to abandon proposals for larger regional police forces after a public consultation found strong opposition to the idea among respondents.
Jonathan Ash-Edwards said the findings demonstrated that those residents that took part in the survey wanted policing to remain locally accountable rather than being delivered through what he described as “mega-forces”.
According to the consultation, which attracted 3,697 responses, almost 68 per cent opposed police mergers, compared with 15 per cent who supported them. Around 60 per cent said they believed they would feel less safe if Hertfordshire Constabulary became part of a larger regional force, while 72 per cent thought mergers would lead to fewer neighbourhood patrols.
Ash-Edwards said he would write to the Home Secretary urging the government to abandon the proposals, arguing that larger forces would weaken local accountability and risk diverting resources away from Hertfordshire.
The consultation comes as the government’s review of police reform considers whether the current 43-force structure in England and Wales should be replaced by fewer, larger organisations. Supporters argue mergers could improve efficiency, specialist capability and resilience, while critics warn they risk weakening neighbourhood policing and reducing local accountability.
The Hertfordshire findings will be submitted to the Home Office as part of the ongoing debate over the future structure of policing.