Police Force Mergers
– What the White Paper Proposes
A significant reduction in the number of police forces in England and Wales. Understanding the road to Summer 2026 and beyond.
Confirmed Status
The January 2026 White Paper confirms that the number of police forces in England and Wales will be "significantly reduced" to fix fragmentation and duplication. While individual merger maps are not yet confirmed, an Independent Review reporting in Summer 2026 will guide decisions on new boundaries. The reform target spans this Parliament and the next (2026-2030+).
The proposal to reduce the number of territorial police forces in England and Wales is perhaps the most emotive element of the 2026 Reform package. For decades, the "43-force model" has been the bedrock of British policing, but the 11th January 2026 White Paper—"A New Era for Policing"—explicitly challenges its viability in a 21st-century crime environment.
For many serving officers, the word "merger" triggers immediate concerns regarding job security, relocation, and the loss of local force identity. The government acknowledges this uncertainty but argues that the status quo is "treading water" against organized crime networks and digital threats that do not respect county boundaries.
This guide provides a factual, non-political breakdown of what the White Paper actually says about mergers. It distinguishes between the structural changes confirmed at the strategic level and the specific operational details that remain undecided ahead of the Summer 2026 Independent Review.
The Case for Change
Why the 60-year-old 43-force model is being challenged.
Legacy Structure
The 43-force model has remained largely unchanged for over 60 years, failing to evolve with modern crime trends.
Scale Capabilities
Smaller forces are described as struggling to manage complex, resource-heavy investigations independently.
Back-Office Duplication
Maintaining 43 separate HR, IT, and legal departments is identified as a primary cause of systemic waste.
Resource Conflict
National and specialist requirements frequently pull resources away from essential local neighbourhood policing.
The White Paper presents the structural reform of policing not as an optional efficiency drive, but as a mandatory prerequisite for modern crime-fighting. It argues that the 43-force model—designed in an era of landlines and local criminals—is fundamentally ill-equipped for a world of Cyber-Dependent Crime and global fraud networks.
A central theme is the **"Technical Capability Gap."** Small forces often lack the "surge capacity" required to investigate complex serious organized crime (SOC) without significantly degrading their response to local burglaries and violence. By creating larger, more resilient forces, the government aims to professionalize specialist units while protecting the front-line.
Furthermore, the duplication of functions is citied as a major drain on officer numbers. The government claims that by consolidating HR, Finance, and IT across larger regions, billions of pounds can be redirected back into the **Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee**—specifically the pledge for 13,000 extra officers and staff.
The Road to Reform
Track the key milestones of the structural review and implementation timeline.
White Paper Published
The government outlines intent to reduce the 43-force model.
Legislative Phase
Primary legislation to enable structural changes introduced.
Independent Review Reports
The definitive report on force boundaries and merger proposals.
Consultation Period
Forces and PCC/Mayoral offices consulted on specific maps.
Phased Implementation
Physical mergers and back-office consolidation begins.
Note: These dates are based on the "Parliamentary Horizon" mentioned in the January 2026 White Paper. Specific force timelines will emerge after the Summer 2026 Review.
The Summer 2026 Review
The definitive report that will set the new policing map.
What the Review Will Consider:
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Force BoundariesEvaluating which counties share common crime profiles and social ties.
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Governance ArrangementsHow the loss of a PCC will be managed by local authorities or mayors.
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Local alignmentEnsuring police boundaries match local government and criminal justice areas.
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Mayoral CoterminosityAligning policing oversight with the powers of directly elected mayors.
The White Paper is clear: decisions on specific mergers will not be made by politicians behind closed doors. Instead, an **Independent Review** has been commissioned to report by Summer 2026. This review is the "gatekeeper" of structural reform.
Its primary goal is **boundary coterminosity**. This means making sure police forces, courts, social services, and local councils are all working within the same geographical footprints. Currently, these boundaries are often disjointed, leading to friction in handling domestic abuse cases, mental health crises, and specialized prosecutions.
The Review will NOT propose a single "National Force" for England and Wales. It is tasked with maintaining the balance between strategic scale and local sensitivity.
The Role of Local Policing Areas (LPAs)
The "face" of policing in a larger force structure.
Neighbourhood Policing
Directly delivered by Local Commanders within the newer, larger force structures.
Emergency Response
Directly delivered by Local Commanders within the newer, larger force structures.
Local Investigations
Directly delivered by Local Commanders within the newer, larger force structures.
A key reassurance in the White Paper is the formalisation of **Local Policing Areas (LPAs)**. Even as the "overarching" force boundaries merge and grow, the delivery of day-to-day policing remains concentrated in LPAs. Each LPA is intended to have a named commander with dedicated responsibility for their community.
The goal is to provide **consistent local policing despite larger force structures**. By lifting the administrative and strategic weight (HR, Procuremnt, National Strategy) into the "Core" or the National Police Service, LPAs can stay "purely operational."
What This Means for You
Likely to Stay the Same
- • Your warrant remains valid nationwide (Office of Constable).
- • Your day-to-day station location (for most frontline roles).
- • Your immediate chain of command (LPA Commander level).
- • Core Response and Neighbourhood duties.
Likely Organisational Changes
- • Change of force name and badge/insignia.
- • Standardised HR, payroll, and IT systems (via the NPS).
- • Different strategic priorities set at a regional level.
- • Potential for broader specialist deployment opportunities.
"All changes will be phased and subject to staff consultation. The government commits to protecting the frontline throughout this structural transition." — White Paper (Jan 2026)
Areas Under Review
Merger Maps
Exactly which forces will combine with which remains speculative until Summer 2026.
Timing
The specific sequence of mergers is not fixed; some will occur faster than others.
Staffing
While frontline roles are "guaranteed," back-office staffing models are subject to regional redesign.
Merger FAQs
Factual answers to common officer concerns.
Q: Will my force merge?
A: The White Paper says the total number of forces will be 'significantly reduced.' Whether your specific force merges depends on the Summer 2026 Review.
Q: Will I have to move to a new station?
A: For most response and neighbourhood officers, station locations will remain tied to the Local Policing Area (LPA), meaning minimal change.
Q: Will my role disappear?
A: The government has pledged 13,000 extra neighbourhood officers and staff, prioritizing frontline retention. Back-office roles may face regional consolidation.
Q: When will we know the final list?
A: The Independent Review reports in Summer 2026. Official merger announcements and legislative maps will follow thereafter.
Q: Will this affect my pay or pension?
A: No. The White Paper explicitly confirms that police pay, pensions, and terms and conditions are not part of these structural mergers.
Q: Does a merger mean a 'National Force'?
A: No. The government is committed to maintaining a decentralized, local delivery model through larger, more resilient forces, rather than one singular agency.