White Paper sets out radical reforms to modernise policing and respond to changing crime
The government has published a major White Paper setting out what it describes as the most significant reform of policing in nearly 200 years, proposing sweeping changes to how policing is organised, governed and delivered across England and Wales.
Updated on 27 January 2026, the document argues that while policing is not “broken”, it has failed to keep pace with profound social, technological and criminal change. It highlights rising levels of everyday crime, including shoplifting and phone theft, alongside the growing sophistication of serious and organised criminal networks. The paper notes that nine in ten crimes now have a digital element, with fraud alone accounting for 44 per cent of all recorded crime.
At the centre of the proposals is the creation of a new National Police Service. This body would take responsibility for national policing functions, including counter-terrorism, serious and organised crime, and fraud. Existing national organisations would be brought together into a single force, with the aim of providing clearer leadership, consistent standards and stronger specialist capability.
The reforms also propose a fundamental restructuring of local policing. The current 43-force model, largely unchanged for six decades, is described as inefficient and outdated. Ministers argue that duplication of headquarters and support functions drains resources from frontline policing. An independent review will examine options for reducing the number of forces, with findings expected in summer 2026.
Under the new structure, local policing would continue to operate as a community-focused service through newly created Local Policing Areas. These units would be responsible for emergency response, neighbourhood policing and local investigations, operating to consistent national standards.
The White Paper commits to strengthening neighbourhood policing, including delivering 13,000 additional officers into neighbourhood roles by the end of the current Parliament. It also proposes clearing away administrative burdens, modernising legislation and expanding the use of technology, including artificial intelligence, to free up officer time.
Governance arrangements would also change. Police and Crime Commissioners would be abolished and replaced with directly elected mayors or, where mayors do not exist, Policing and Crime Boards made up of local authority leaders. The government says this will improve accountability and integrate policing more closely with local services.
To address inconsistent performance, the proposals include restoring national targets, introducing minimum service standards and enhancing powers for intervention where forces fail. In the most serious cases, the Home Secretary would regain the power to dismiss a Chief Constable.
The White Paper concludes that without decisive reform, the gap between modern crime and policing capability will continue to widen. Ministers argue the proposed model will ensure local forces focus on communities, while national policing protects the public from the most serious threats.