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Met chief warns policing 'heading for failure' without reform

Rowley says a three-tier model could free up thousands of roles and give police stronger tools against organised crime and cyber threats.

  • On Friday, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley proposed replacing the 43-force structure with eight to ten regional forces and a National Police Service to address modern criminal threats.
  • Policing spending fell from about 0.9% of GDP to 0.7% since 2010, leaving forces overstretched and contributing to a 9% drop in public confidence and performance declines.
  • Sir Mark argued the current system struggles to keep pace, stating, "We have 43 overstretched forces trying to do too much, with too little." He said restructuring would reduce duplication and free up frontline resources.
  • The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners questioned the regional "mega-forces," while some rural commissioners dismissed the consolidation plans as "political manoeuvring" designed to "load the dice in their favour."
  • Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood launched a consultation in January exploring structural mergers, positioning the proposal as part of a broader government policy review to modernize British policing.
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BBC News broke the news in London, United Kingdom on Friday, November 6, 2026.
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