Tell Us What You Think About Proposed Police Reform

The Government has published a Police Reform White Paper and commissioned an Independent Review of Police Force Structures. 

The review is considering whether the current 43 police forces across England and Wales should be replaced with a smaller number of larger regional forces. Reports suggest this could reduce the number of forces to as few as 12. 

The reforms also include proposals to change police governance arrangements, including the abolition of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and the introduction of new policing governance structures. 

The Government argues that policing faces increasingly complex challenges, including serious organised crime, cybercrime and threats that cross force boundaries. 

The White Paper suggests that larger police forces could improve collaboration, reduce duplication and create greater consistency in policing services across the country. 

The Government also proposes greater national standardisation in areas such as training, procurement, technology and specialist policing capabilities. 

Yes. 

The Home Office previously explored police force mergers in 2006. Those proposals were not implemented due to concerns around funding, council tax equalisation, implementation costs and the complexity of merging different policing structures. 

No decisions have been made and the outcome of the Independent Review is not yet known. 

If the Government proceeds with a move to larger regional forces, Wiltshire Police could become part of a wider regional policing structure. However, the Government has not yet published detailed proposals identifying which forces would be merged together. 

At this stage, there is still significant uncertainty about how any future arrangements would operate. 

Supporters of reform argue that larger police forces could: 

• Improve collaboration across force boundaries. 

• Strengthen specialist policing capabilities such as tackling serious organised crime, firearms operations and major investigations. 

• Create more consistent national standards. 

• Reduce duplication in administration, procurement and support services. 

• Improve the ability to deploy resources quickly in response to major incidents or emergencies. 

The Government has also proposed greater national consistency in areas such as training, technology and leadership. 

Concerns raised by some police leaders, PCCs and commentators include: 

• A reduction in local accountability and democratic oversight. 

• Decision-making becoming more centralised and further removed from local communities. 

• The risk that rural areas could receive less focus than larger urban centres. 

• Significant implementation costs that could divert resources away from frontline policing. 

• Disruption during the transition to new policing structures. 

• Uncertainty about whether any financial savings would be realised in practice. 

Wiltshire PCC Philip Wilkinson has argued that reform should strengthen national efficiency and capability without weakening local policing or the public's voice in local policing decisions. 

The Police and Crime Commissioner supports many aspects of police reform, including: 

• National standards for training and leadership. 

• Improved technology and data sharing. 

• More efficient procurement and support services. 

• Stronger national capabilities to tackle serious organised crime and counter-terrorism. 

However, the PCC has expressed concerns about proposals that could reduce local accountability or move decision-making further away from communities. 

He believes neighbourhood policing works best when it remains locally focused, shaped by local priorities and supported by direct democratic accountability. 

Police forces receive part of their funding through the policing element of Council Tax, known as the police precept. 

If police forces are merged into larger regional organisations, it is possible that council tax arrangements would need to be aligned across a wider geographic area. 

The Government has not yet provided detailed information on how council tax arrangements would work under any new policing structure. 

The PCC has called for clarity and assurances that local taxpayers will not face increased costs as a result of police reform. At the moment, Wiltshire has one of the lowest precept elements of the council tax in the South West. 

The Independent Review of Police Force Structures is expected to report its findings to the Home Secretary later this year. 

The review is considering: 

• The most effective number of police forces across England and Wales. 

• How local policing should operate under any new structure. 

• Future governance arrangements. 

• Which areas might take part in any early pilot or pathfinder programmes. 

• How reforms could be delivered while minimising disruption to policing services. 

No final decisions have yet been announced. 

Your feedback will help the Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner understand local views on police reform. 

Responses will be reviewed and used to help inform the PCC's engagement with Government and national policing bodies as discussions on reform continue. 

A summary of findings may be published, but individual responses will remain confidential. 

Further information is available from: 

• Home Office – Police Reform White Paper: From local to national: a new model for policing - GOV.UK 

• Home Office – Independent Review of Police Force Structures: Independent review of police force structures: terms of reference - GOV.UK 

• Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC): Just a moment... 

You can also read statements and updates from the Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner on police reform and its potential impact on local policing services. 

These proposals could shape the future of policing in Wiltshire for many years to come. Whether you support the reforms, oppose them, or have concerns about specific aspects, we want to hear your views. 

Your feedback will help ensure that the voices of Wiltshire and Swindon residents are part of the national conversation about the future of policing.