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”.
There is probably a case for merging some smaller forces, so the number comes down from 43? to 30 ish. Going down to 11 or so, would cut the local element.
They point to less need to replicate HQ elements for each force. But yes, I fear they’ll just become one big call centre for each region with even fewer Police locally.
I’d love a local Police Officer on the beat, getting to know them, they get to know the residents and their patch. Just like when I was a postman and everyone knew me and I knew all the elderly on my walk and would look out for them.
Why is it so difficult?
30 years ago, when we had a village police constable, there was a spate of burglaries. He spotted they all happened on one day a week, in one part of the village. So he asked a villager if he could stand in his spare bedroom & keep a look out. He spotted someone acting suspiciously & caught him in the act of breaking in. When they searched his room, they found items from 18 break ins. No supercomputers, helicopters or assault rifles needed. Just old fashioned coppering. Now all you get is a crime number.
A fine example John.
Basics…
Doesn’t happen anymore mate! After training at the college in Chelmsford (I can only speak for Essex plod in this) the new plods go to the LPT (local police teams) and do their probation there and after that are able to move on or specialise. Not many want to sit on the LPT and arse about for 70% of their time on domestics!
I could tell you that I know one large port town on the North Essex coast (no names but you could probably guess) for example has 3 assigned to the station taken from Clacton numbers and on many shifts only 1 is at work there! Most shifts in one certain town are understaffed, maybe 6 regular, 2 specials and a couple of PCSOs. Of those maybe just 2 are response trained, maybe 1 or 2 taser etc and most custody suites closed (nick someone in Clacton you may have to drive to Southend to process) etc etc.
The police are struggling mate, with chief constables becoming political serfs, and the deputy CCs wanting the top job and therefore do the same, and head sheds at all levels are mostly pathetic, and recruiting straight from uni or 18 year olds means a serious lack of life skills and judgement. It’s become a job where you follow direction from the head sheds, mostly political, and initiative and decision making is frowned upon.
It’s a shame as there are quite a few officers want to be thief takers and robust, but they simply cannot be robust as the climate of fear they operate in means one wrong complaint from a colleague means they suspended for months pending investigation or sacked! In training they are constantly told to basically snitch on others, not for wrong doing but for words, opinions and views!!!!!!
Sad but the current state of affairs at the moment. A once decent uniformed organisation has become a shadow of itself and no longer answers to the public. They are servants to the crown and therefore do not work or answer to the Government, a fact many people in power forget. Anyway sorry about the long reply mate, just a sad current bee in my bonnet regarding this subject.
Hello mate.
Thanks for all that. A sad state off affairs to what many would want the Police to be.
I recall from our numerous conversations here over the years that your daughter went into the force? So you have a good source. And that job that I recall you did too.
Yes mate, second daughter also in the job now. As is the son in law to be lol! Most institutions in the UK have regressed and fell for the woke agenda also mostly headed up by weak people indebted to a political ideology and their own self interests! Sad but the only way is up surely? Have a good one mate 👍
Even the Police have elements of spin. I was reading the other day how this would be “Britain’s FBI.”
A “national” Police already exist, they’re the NCA and they have been around for years, and when they formed the media also called them “Britain’s FBI.”
Like the CTP and MI5 Regional stations, many of their locations are covert.
You could argue that the CTP and various SBs are also national.
Well CI5 was fictional, but now I wonder if real life should copy art?
Not worth it John, without Lewis Collins (RIP) it’d be a flop 😒😉
What an actor. Passed selection for 23 I read.