Policing review may lead to West Mercia and Warwickshire force mergers
A review of policing in England and Wales was today recommending a cut in the number of forces, raising the prospect of a merger between West Mercia and Warwickshire forces.
Ex-Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Stevens says in a report changes to the service's structure will make it more efficient and effective.
He says a cut in the number of forces is one way to improve the way UK police work.
It comes after it was claimed last month West Mercia Police should consider the "inevitable" step of merging with Warwickshire in a bid to save money. Ken Mackaill, the chairman of the Police Federation, made his comments as an alliance between the two forces, designed to save more than £30 million by 2015, came into effect. The forces work together on operational duties and have combined administrative posts.
Lord Stevens' long-awaited review, commissioned by the Labour Party, is being billed as the most comprehensive analysis of policing for half a century.
West Mercia police commissioner Bill Longmore has confirmed the subject of a single chief constable or merger is being discussed. But both he and chief constable David Shaw insisted there were currently no concrete merger plans. Warwickshire's chief constable Andy Parker said a merger was one of a number of ideas being discussed.
Lord Stevens said he was making 37 "radical" recommendations, including a commitment to neighbourhood policing and more bobbies on the beat.
Police officers would be given a new chartered status and could face being struck off a professional register if they are guilty of misconduct, under proposals designed to restore trust in the service.
In recognition of policing scandals including Hillsborough and the "plebgate" row involving former chief whip Andrew Mitchell, Lord Stevens also recommends a fundamental shake-up of professional standards in forces in England and Wales.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) would be scrapped and replaced by a new Independent Police Standards Commission (IPSC).
Lord Stevens' report recommends a new status of chartered police officer, in addition to the office of constable.
The reform would bring the police into line with other professions like nursing, with officers registered with the College of Policing which could strike them off for failing to meet professional standards.
The report says: "The commission recommends creating a 'chartered police officer' as the basis of the police profession. A 'chartered' police officer accountable to a strong professional body will improve public confidence and give greater competence and status to police officers and staff."
The IPSC would be responsible for enforcing standards set by the College of Policing under the commission's proposals.
The Labour-commissioned report said: "A spate of organisational failures and scandals over recent years has badly damaged public confidence in the integrity of the police. It is vital this situation is put right. Recent experience has found wanting the existing system which separates the monitoring of organisational performance from the investigation of police complaints. The commission suggests a single significant reform to remedy the failings of current arrangements."
Lord Stevens, who introduced neighbourhood policing at the Met, said his commission heard officers were in danger of "beating a retreat from the beat" to a "discredited" reactive form of policing.
Lord Stevens acknowledged no extra money for his reforms would be made available, but said he had identified £60 million of savings to 2016/17 by paying the lowest price for common equipment.
Lord Stevens' main recommendations:
There should be a review into the possibility of reducing the number of police forces, merging some in order to improve efficiency
Police forces should no longer investigate the conduct of their own officers when they are accused of misconduct or of committing criminal acts
Local residents should be given more power over policing priorities in their areas
Police are returning to a discredited style of policing which only reacts to incidents rather than responding to root causes of crime
All police forces should introduce standardised uniforms and bulk buy other equipment, in a move which would save £62 million by 2016-17, or enough to pay for 500 extra officer
Restrictions should be placed on the way chief constables can hand work to private security firms such as G4S and Serco, to maintain trust and integrity
