‘Super-force’ plans a real threat to local policing, English mayors say
Summary
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley has called for England and Wales to reduce their 43 police forces to eight to 10 larger regional forces. Several mayors oppose the most radical version, warning it could weaken local accountability and neighbourhood policing; a government-commissioned review has yet to be published.Key Facts
- Rowley said the number of forces should fall from 43 to eight to 10.
- Chief constables from other forces, including Greater Manchester Police, backed Rowley’s proposal.
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a review of police-force structures in January and appointed former Met commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe to lead it.
- The unpublished review is understood to consider a range of nine to 18 larger forces.
- Several mayors favour aligning police forces with mayoral boundaries to preserve local oversight.
- Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said regional super-forces would undermine local accountability and devolution.
- Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig urged the government not to adopt the most radical proposal.
- York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith called the plans a threat to local policing and criticised the Met’s record.
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