Senior policing bodies have publicly supported the government proposal to create a National Police Service, while stressing that the reform must preserve strong links with local forces and communities, according to Counter Terrorism Policing, the Metropolitan Police and the National Police Chief Council.
In a joint statement issued following the publication of the government’s White Paper, the organisations said the scale and complexity of modern threats now require a more integrated national approach. They pointed to the increasingly interconnected nature of terrorism, hostile state activity and organised crime, arguing that these challenges demand a policing model that is agile, resilient and capable of operating across traditional boundaries.
The statement described the proposed National Police Service as an “ambitious step” that would bring together some of the UK’s most capable specialist policing teams. The organisations highlighted the existing international reputation of UK counter-terrorism policing, noting that its “capabilities and professionalism are recognised globally”, and suggested the new structure would build on that standing.
At the same time, the police leaders cautioned that structural reform alone would not be sufficient. They warned that the success of a National Police Service would depend on maintaining effective relationships with local policing and the public. Neighbourhood officers were described as “indispensable in disrupting organised crime and countering terrorism”, with their local knowledge and community presence characterised as “foundational to public safety”.
