Metropolitan chief warns police forces must be cut to avoid collapse

The Guardian reported that Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, said police are heading for failure unless the number of forces in England and Wales is slashed, with their ability to catch criminals collapsing and public confidence falling. Rowley called for a “revolution” in policing as a major review is expected to propose regional “super forces”. He warned that without drastic cuts the service could lose effectiveness. The comments come as some police leaders are pressing for a radical package of reforms to reshape policing across the region.

The push for larger, merged forces aims to address the perceived decline in crime‑fighting capacity and restore public trust.

Why it matters

Restructuring could reshape how policing is delivered, affecting crime detection and public confidence in England and Wales.

Key details

Location

United Kingdom · Europe

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

6 Nov 2026, 05:34 IST

Key names

England, Wales, Met, Mark Rowley

Section

World

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianSlashing number of police forces in England and Wales is only option, says Met chief 6 Nov, 05:34

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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