Met chief proposes radical police shake-up

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has called for a significant structural reform of policing across England and Wales, warning that the current system faces an 'inevitable decline' if it fails to adapt. The proposal involves consolidating the existing 43 police forces into between eight and ten larger regional bodies. These merged forces would operate alongside hundreds of local policing commands and be supported by a new National Police Service focused on serious organised crime and counter-terrorism.

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Sir Mark argued that the current fragmented model, which has remained largely unchanged for six decades, is no longer adequate for confronting the complexities of modern crime. These include sophisticated organised crime networks, widespread online fraud, and evolving cyber threats. He stated that the existing structure is burdened by duplication and bureaucracy, diverting resources from essential frontline duties. The Commissioner warned that standing still poses a greater danger than implementing change, as reported by The Standard.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has indicated ministerial backing for such reforms, having previously stated that the current police model is 'no longer fit for purpose'. She noted that some existing forces are too small to effectively manage complex investigations or major incidents. These proposed changes were developed as part of a government-commissioned review led by former Met Commissioner Lord Hogan-Howe, which has yet to be published.

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Met Police chief calls for overhaul of 43-force model

Sir Mark Rowley proposes merging forces into eight to ten regional units to combat rising crime complexity.

The call for reform comes amid ongoing financial concerns for the Metropolitan Police. Sir Mark Rowley highlighted that the force has lost approximately 4,000 staff and requires hundreds of millions of pounds more than currently allocated to meet London's specific policing demands. He pointed to the financial strain caused by the cost of policing large-scale events, protests, and football matches, in addition to routine crime. The Commissioner stated that the Met is 'several hundred million short' of the necessary funding to police the capital effectively, as reported by Barnet Post.

During a discussion with members of the London Assembly, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, addressed the Met Police budget shortfall. He attributed the deficit to decisions made by previous governments, while also noting that the current administration has increased funding. Sir Sadiq mentioned that significant funding increases, totalling £373 million over the past three years, have been received from central government, representing a nine-fold rise. However, he acknowledged that this is insufficient to fully compensate for losses incurred over the preceding 14 years, as detailed by The Standard.

City Hall Conservatives leader Susan Hall questioned officer numbers. The Mayor conceded that restoring previous funding levels will take time and pointed to past difficult decisions, such as the closure of police stations, made since 2007.