# Met Police Chief Demands Radical Overhaul of England's Fragmented Policing Structure Sir Mark Rowley warns current 43-force model faces failure against modern, sophisticated criminal threats. - **Source:** [BBC News – Politics](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/671c60b2-e5da-41d8-a992-2d26ed3befb2 ## Systemic Failure Warning Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has issued a stark warning that the current policing structure in England and Wales is heading for failure. He argues that the existing 43-force system is fundamentally unable to cope with the sophisticated, cross-border nature of modern criminal networks and cyber-related threats. ## Proposed Three-Tier Model Rowley proposes a major structural overhaul, replacing the current 43 forces with a three-tier system. This would include local teams for neighbourhood issues, eight to ten regional forces to share specialist resources, and a new National Police Service specifically designed to tackle the most serious and complex international crimes. ## Modern Criminal Sophistication Organised crime groups, fraud networks, and cyber-criminals now operate across regional and international borders. Rowley notes that while threats have evolved significantly, police forces remain organised around local areas as they were in the 1960s, leaving them overstretched and struggling to keep pace with these increasingly complex criminal activities. ## Declining Financial Support Financial pressures remain a central concern, with Rowley highlighting that police funding has fallen from 0.9% of GDP to 0.7% since 2010. This underinvestment forces departments to rely on ageing technology, while officers are frequently diverted from core neighbourhood policing duties to address mental health and social care demands. ## Performance and Confidence The current system is showing clear signs of strain, with national positive outcome rates now less than half of what they were 12 years ago. Public confidence in the police has simultaneously dropped by 9%, reflecting a growing disconnect between the service provided and the expectations of local communities. ## Efficiency Through Mergers Rowley believes that merging forces would significantly reduce administrative duplication. He argues that this consolidation could potentially free up thousands of roles, allowing resources to be redirected toward frontline policing. The Home Office has defended these plans, stating the current 1960s-era model is no longer fit for purpose. ## Political and Regional Resistance Opposition to the plan is mounting, particularly from rural police and crime commissioners who fear the changes are political manoeuvring. Critics like Matthew Scott of Kent argue that the reforms would cause a decade of disruption, making local services more remote and failing to consult the public on their needs. ## Institutional Skepticism The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) supports modernisation and a National Police Service but questions the necessity of reducing 43 forces to nine regional mega-forces. Similarly, outgoing Cheshire Chief Constable Mark Roberts warns that merging could risk losing high-performing local models to satisfy broader, less efficient structures. ## Uncertain Political Future While Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood previously launched a consultation on these structural changes, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has yet to comment publicly. Police chiefs remain nervous about the lack of explicit backing from the new administration, fearing that inaction will lead to the apocalyptic consequences warned by Sir Mark. ## Sources covering this story - [BBC News – Politics — Met Police Chief Demands Urgent Overhaul of England's Policing Structure](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvglww2r307ko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) - [BBC News – UK — Met Chief Warns UK Policing Faces Failure Without Urgent Structural Reform](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvglww2r307ko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) - [BBC News – England — Met Police Chief Warns of Systemic Failure Without Radical Reform](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvglww2r307ko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) - [BBC News – Top Stories — Met Police Chief Calls for Major Structural Reform](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvglww2r307ko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) - [Channel 4 News — Met Police Chief Supports Consolidation into Eight Regional Forces](https://www.channel4.com/news/met-police-chief-backs-plans-for-eight-new-super-forces-in-england-and-wales) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._