Key facts
- The Hogan-Howe review concluded England's 39 police forces should be cut to as few as nine, per the Guardian.
- The review gives a range of nine to 18 larger forces, multiple sources said.
- Nine regional forces plus a single force for Wales are under consideration, above more than 150 local policing units.
- The review was completed in September and sent to home secretary Shabana Mahmood; publication is promised before Christmas.
- Met commissioner Mark Rowley is scheduled to meet Andy Burnham on Friday at No 10 North in Manchester.
- A new National Police Service would house counter-terrorism and serious and organised crime policing.
An official review ordered by the government has concluded that the number of police forces in England should be cut from 39 to as few as nine, according to the Guardian. The review, carried out by the former Met police commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe, has not been published. Multiple sources say nine regional forces plus a single force for Wales are under consideration, sitting above more than 150 local policing units that would deliver most neighbourhood crime-fighting.
The review was completed in September and sent to the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood. Government sources will only say it will be published before Christmas, with a white paper due in the new year. The delay is understood to be because of Andy Burnham's devolution agenda and a desire to rewire the British state and reform local government, including adding more mayors. Some of the new forces would be covered by and accountable to mayors, while others would have mayors covering only some or none of their area.
Hogan-Howe's report gives a range of how many larger forces there should be, from nine to 18, multiple sources said. The axing of most of the 43 forces in England and Wales is seen as essential by the review and some police chiefs, including the current Met commissioner, Mark Rowley, who are concerned the government may delay the change. Some other chief constables told the Guardian they are sceptical of or do not support a reduction to nine forces.
Rowley is scheduled to meet Burnham on Friday at No 10 North in Manchester after an event titled "The cost of standing still is that criminals will win", where the Met commissioner and chiefs including the Greater Manchester chief constable, Stephen Watson, will press for a large reduction of forces. One police source said: "There are some concerns Andy Burnham may want to align the new police structures with mayors, which could mean 20 or more forces. That is not a radical enough change."
Above the regional forces would sit a new nationwide force called the National Police Service, which the government wants to be the home of counter-terrorism policing and serious and organised crime. The advert for a commissioner for the national force is expected to be issued early in the new year. The bigger forces would handle major crimes such as murders and serious sexual violence, public order, and back office functions such as human resources currently done by each of the 43 forces individually.