Regional Leaders Voice Alarm Over Centralised Policing Proposals
In a series of public statements and private exchanges this week, senior mayors across England have issued sharp critiques of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley's proposal to consolidate the nation’s 43 police forces into between eight and ten 'super-forces'. The plan—announced in an address during a speech in Manchester—is being described by regional leaders as a ‘real threat’ to effective local law enforcement and a direct challenge to ongoing efforts at devolution.
The Guardian reports that several mayoral figures expressed deep concern over what they perceive as an attempt to override existing governance structures. Steve Rotheram, mayor of Liverpool city region and a close political ally of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, dismissed the initiative with strong language: ‘The wolf of centralisation dressed up in sheep’s clothing’. He argued that merging smaller forces into large regional entities would undermine accountability mechanisms already proven successful within specific urban contexts.
Criticism of Centralised Models and Accountability Concerns
Mayors across England are particularly wary about how such reforms might affect oversight at local levels. Sadiq Khan, London's mayor, has voiced concerns over potential damage to neighbourhood policing if the Metropolitan Police—already responsible for nearly all of Greater London—is allowed to absorb smaller, geographically distinct units like the City of London force, which covers just one square mile. This concern reflects a broader apprehension among leaders that centralisation could dilute responsiveness to community-specific issues.
One unnamed mayor, who declined public attribution but spoke directly in an internal briefing, suggested that while significant reform is inevitable, it should not proceed down the path proposed by Rowley and other senior police figures. According to this source, there will likely be a compromise: aligning forces with mayoral boundaries—which would reduce the total number from 43 to approximately half—while still maintaining far more than eight or ten operational entities. The mayor emphasized that such alignment has already demonstrated success in places like Manchester under Andy Burnham’s leadership, suggesting continuity of effective local governance as a viable alternative to radical centralisation.
Devolution Agenda at Risk
The proposal comes amid heightened scrutiny over Prime Minister Keir Starmer's broader devolution agenda led by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. In January, she announced plans for a comprehensive review into how police services are structured across England and Wales, commissioning Bernard Hogan-Howe—the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner—to lead an official assessment on the optimal number and structure of regional forces.
This independent review has not yet been published; however, internal sources suggest it will evaluate options ranging from nine to eighteen larger forces—down from today’s 43—but without specifying any definitive recommendation. The absence of public disclosure raises questions about transparency in what may become one of the most consequential policing reforms since the post-war era.
Mayors Defend Local Accountability as Foundation
Mayor Bev Craig of Greater Manchester stated clearly that she would urge government officials against adopting Rowley's most radical proposals. In a statement released Friday, she highlighted past successes: 'We’ve proven what can happen when local accountability, at a geographic level that makes sense, works.'
This sentiment is echoed by David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, who described the plan as a ‘real threat’ to local policing. He rejected any authority for the Metropolitan Police—long criticised in public debates over its handling of incidents such as anti-social behaviour or community engagement—to dictate standards across England’s diverse regions. His remarks underscored a broader principle among mayors: no single force should be positioned as an arbiter of best practice.
Kim McGuinness, mayor of north-east England, went further in her critique, warning against what she sees as dangerous precedent. She stated that 'a locally accountable police force is the cornerstone of the criminal justice system', and stressed caution about dismantling models which have supported British law enforcement for generations. Her criticism was particularly pointed when she noted that the Metropolitan Police—currently under scrutiny over several high-profile incidents—is not qualified to ‘preach’ policing standards to other regions. The comment reflects growing unease within regional leadership about the legitimacy of drawing policy guidance from a single metropolitan institution with known performance issues.
Rowley’s Justification: Efficiency Over Centralisation
In contrast, Mark Rowley defended his vision during an address in Manchester where he argued that without radical reform, local police services would be unable to meet modern challenges such as transnational crime networks and cyber threats. He maintained that 'we cannot ask local officers to confront international criminal networks without the strength of a wider service behind them.'
Rowley insisted that this is not a zero-sum choice between neighbourhood policing and specialist capabilities—rather, strong local forces require both elements. His position rests on what he describes as a practical necessity for resilience across all levels of law enforcement.
Economic Arguments Behind Structural Change
The proposal also carries significant financial implications. According to senior police officials—including Stephen Watson, chief constable of Greater Manchester—the current 43-force model results in duplicated administrative structures: 43 headquarters, 43 chiefs, 43 deputies, 43 IT directors, 43 HR departments, and 43 procurement teams—all operating under separate systems with no interoperability or shared resources.
Watson described this fragmentation as an ‘incontrovertible’ business case for consolidation. He stated that if any commercial enterprise were structured similarly—without centralised coordination—it would likely fail within a short period due to inefficiencies in operations, communication, and cost management. This argument draws on principles from corporate governance and supply chain efficiency, suggesting that the current model is not only administratively burdensome but also economically unsustainable over time.
Potential Impacts on Public Trust and Service Delivery
The debate extends beyond administrative logistics into questions of public trust and service delivery. Critics argue that local forces have historically developed strong relationships with communities through tailored responses to crime patterns unique to specific areas—from rural villages to inner-city districts.
For instance, smaller towns may face different types of criminal activity—such as property crimes or youth-related offences—that differ significantly from those in major metropolitan centres like London or Manchester. A single super-force spanning such varied geographies could struggle to maintain responsive operations without significant reconfiguration of priorities and resources.
Limited Transparency and Ongoing Uncertainty
To date, no official document has been released outlining the full scope of Bernard Hogan-Howe’s review into police force structure. While internal sources suggest that recommendations will range between nine and eighteen forces, there is currently no public roadmap for implementation, timeline, or consultation process with local authorities.
This lack of transparency raises concerns about democratic legitimacy—particularly given that decisions affecting policing are traditionally made through a consultative framework involving mayors, police and crime commissioners (PCCs), and community representatives. Without such engagement, critics warn that reforms risk being imposed rather than co-developed.
Political Tensions Between Central and Local Governance
The proposal has intensified political tensions within the UK’s governance structure. While Rowley represents one side—the push for efficiency and national coordination—it stands in contrast to regional leaders who advocate for devolution as both a principle and practical necessity. The current debate reflects deeper ideological divides over how power should be distributed between central government bodies and local administrations.
In this context, Andy Burnham—whose leadership of Greater Manchester has been credited with successful integration of policing into broader urban development strategies—is seen by many mayors not only as an architect of effective local law enforcement but also as a symbol of what can happen when accountability is rooted locally rather than centrally assigned.
What Comes Next?
The next phase will depend on the publication of Hogan-Howe’s review and whether it includes any recommendations that balance national efficiency with regional responsiveness. If no such compromise emerges, political pressure could grow for greater public scrutiny or even parliamentary intervention to ensure reforms do not erode democratic oversight mechanisms in favour of top-down centralisation.
Moving forward, mayoral leaders are expected to continue advocating for models where police forces align directly with local government boundaries—ensuring continuity between elected officials and law enforcement leadership. Such alignment would allow for more direct accountability, better community engagement, and a stronger foundation for trust-based policing across England's diverse regions.