Mark Rowley says policing is heading for failure without reform as forces face overhaul
A proposed national restructure
Rowley’s plan would create eight to 10 regional police forces, supported by hundreds of local policing commands and a National Police Service. The proposed overhaul would be the biggest change to policing since the 1960s.
He says organised crime, fraud, cyber-crime and online child abuse increasingly cross regional and international borders. In his view, a system built around local areas is not organised to meet those challenges.
Disagreement over force numbers
Rowley argues that merging forces could reduce duplication and allow thousands of roles to move to front-line policing. He also says that adding money to the current structure would not fix its underlying problems.
Some rural police and crime commissioners have called the plans “political manoeuvring” by larger forces seeking an advantage. They have questioned the case for cutting the number of forces from 43 to nine regional forces.
Pressure on local policing
Rowley says years of underinvestment have left forces using ageing technology. Officers, he says, are also being drawn away from neighbourhood duties to handle demands including mental health and social care.
He warned that standing still could mean fewer crimes solved and less local presence, including during exceptional incidents such as the disorder in Hampshire. He said policing needs investment, but argued that the existing system is not designed for today’s challenges.
Key points
- Rowley proposes regional forces, local commands and a new National Police Service.
- He argues that cross-border crime demands a different policing structure.
- Mergers could reduce duplication and redirect thousands of roles to front-line policing, he says.
- Some rural police and crime commissioners oppose reducing the number of forces.