Ministers are set to score unprecedented powers to axe underperforming chief constables and take direct control of failing police forces. It’s the boldest police reform in 200 years.
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Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has just unveiled a white paper titled “From local to national: a new model for policing”, promising a radical overhaul that will slash the number of England and Wales forces while launching a new nationwide crime-fighting mega-force.
Chief Constables on Notice – Ministers to Intervene Directly
- Home Secretary gains power to force retirement, suspension or resignation of poorly performing chiefs
- Specialist strike teams will be deployed into struggling forces to turn them around
- New mandatory response targets: 15 minutes for serious incidents in cities, 20 minutes in rural areas
- All 999 calls must be answered within 10 seconds, with performance published for public scrutiny
New National Police Service to Tackle Serious Crime
The reforms will create a powerful National Police Service. It will merge the National Crime Agency, Counter Terrorism Policing, regional organised crime units, police helicopters, and national roads policing into one mega-organisation.
