Local Leaders Warn 'Mega' Police Forces Threaten Rural Neighbourhoods

Neighbourhood policing in rural communities faces a significant threat from proposed 'mega' regional police forces, according to York and North Yorkshire leaders.

Neighbourhood policing in rural communities could face significant threats if proposals for new 'mega' regional police forces go ahead.

Resources could be diverted to large cities, leaving local towns and villages more vulnerable to crime under top-down reorganisations, local officials have warned.

The stark warning follows remarks from Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley, who recently suggested restructuring the nation's policing into a smaller number of large regional forces.

Strategic Mayoral Authorities must remain the default structure for any upcoming government reforms, according to regional leaders.

Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, said:

"‘Mega forces’ are a threat to neighbourhood policing in York and North Yorkshire, especially in our rural communities. They would inevitably see resources diverted to large cities, leaving towns and villages at risk of becoming hotspots for crime. That is unfair to North Yorkshire taxpayers, who provide almost half of the funding for policing.

I am deeply concerned about the impact that removing policing from a core principle of devolution, the alignment of public services with mayoral boundaries, would have on the cohesive approach we want to take to early intervention and prevention. This is particularly important given how closely interconnected outcomes in health, education and employment are with crime."

The potential removal of policing from the core principles of devolution has sparked deep concern among local officials.

They argue that aligning public services with mayoral boundaries remains crucial for early intervention and prevention strategies.

Mr Skaith added:

"There is more to do. Nobody disagrees that the police need to improve and that reform is necessary. But that reform should be rooted in collaboration, not top-down reorganisation.

Local accountability has never diminished the police’s ability to work across boundaries to tackle cross-border issues such as organised county lines crime, fraud, cyber crime and counter-terrorism. That is why I support the creation of a strengthened national police service, but not at the cost of the crucial and intrinsic link between the police and the communities they serve.

Policing must be, and must feel, local: rooted in the community, serving and protecting those communities, and operating with their consent. These proposals must not seek to strip away the valuable role that local accountability has to offer.

North Yorkshire Police is a good police force. It is efficient, provides good value for taxpayers, and its officers work hard every day to make North Yorkshire the safest county in the country. They should be able to continue that work without distraction."

Criminal networks frequently cross force boundaries, exploiting the changing nature of modern crime, including cybercrime, fraud, and child exploitation.

However, creating larger forces is not the solution to these complex challenges, local leaders insist.

Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime, Jo Coles, said:

"Policing must adapt to the changing nature of crime. Cybercrime, fraud, child exploitation and organised criminal networks do not respect force boundaries. But it does not follow that bigger police forces are the answer. Serious and organised crime requires strong national capabilities and effective collaboration.

Policing cannot defeat modern crime alone. We need every partner around the table, all shoulders to the wheel; with Mayors helping to lead the response. Police reform will not automatically create more police officers, shorten our 6,000 miles of roads or remove the demands of 32 million visitors into York and North Yorkshire.

The test is not how policing could be organised differently. It is whether changes will make the public safer. Until that case is made with evidence rather than assertion, our priorities will continue to be what will make York and North Yorkshire safer."