The UK Government has published a White Paper outlining proposed reforms to policing in England and Wales, including the creation of a National Police Service and a significant reduction in the number of existing forces. The Countryside Alliance is engaging with these proposals to ensure that any changes protect rural communities, businesses and the unique policing challenges faced in the countryside.
The Countryside Alliance recognises that policing in England and Wales must be effective for the modern world and capable of tackling both local and national threats. We share the government’s interest in improving consistency, specialist capability and public confidence in policing, themes that echo the issues we have long raised in calls for reform of firearms licensing services, where centralising functions has been proposed to achieve greater consistency and public safety.
The proposals set out in the White Paper, From local to national: a new model for policing, aim to create a National Police Service and reduce the number of existing police forces, with the intention of strengthening national capabilities and freeing local officers to focus on community policing.
We recognise the case for reform where it helps iron out inconsistencies or improves access to specialist expertise. But the government must be clear about how everyday rural policing will be protected under a more centralised system, how local teams will work on the ground, how rural priorities will be taken seriously and how resources will be directed to where they are genuinely needed.
Policing in rural areas already presents distinct challenges. According to the Countryside Alliance’s 2024 Rural Crime Survey, 96% of rural residents see crime as a significant issue in their area and 73% believe crime has increased over the past year. Nearly four in 10 people had experienced rural crime, with priority offences including fly-tipping (44%), agricultural machinery theft (32%) and illegal poaching (31%). Almost half of those who reported crime were dissatisfied with the police response and 85% said the police cannot be relied on to be there when needed.
This White Paper also raises questions about how changes in police governance, especially where policing powers may be aligned with directly elected mayors in some areas, will interact with local accountability and democratic oversight for communities outside major urban centres. It is essential that rural voices are heard and represented in this governance landscape and that mechanisms are in place to ensure consistent engagement with rural communities, farmers and rural businesses.
The Alliance will continue to engage constructively with the government as proposals are consulted on, including asking the Home Office:
We welcome the opportunity to work with the Home Office and partners to ensure that any proposals to change the model of policing meet the needs of all communities, urban and rural alike.