Met Police Commissioner to call for major reforms
Sir Mark Rowley is making a speech in Manchester on Friday
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley is set to deliver a keynote speech in Manchester on Friday, urging significant reforms to policing in England and Wales.
Sir Mark's proposals are expected to include consolidating the number of police forces from 43 to as few as eight and forming a new National Police Service supported by hundreds of local policing commands.
He warns that if these reforms are not implemented, the UK faces a decline in policing services, reliant on the goodwill of its workforce and lacking alignment with the realities of contemporary crime.
During his speech, Sir Mark is expected to highlight that organised crime, online child abuse, fraud networks, cyber criminals, and hostile states operate across regional, national, and international borders, while current policing models remain outdated.
"The moments that define policing are the moments when it has the courage to change," he will say, advocating for a "third greatest revolution in British policing".
He will argue that removing duplication from the current 43 police forces could free up thousands of roles, allowing resources to be reinvested in frontline services, drawing a comparison with the NHS's structuring of specialist services.
The speech will also address a decrease in police funding, which has declined from around 0.9% to 0.7% of GDP since 2010, impacting officer visibility, service levels, and timely justice for victims.
Sir Mark will argue that criminals have adapted to technological advancements while British policing structures have largely remained stagnant.
"The real danger is standing still," he will add.
The speech will be followed by a panel discussion with four other chief constables.