A major shake-up of police forces in England and Wales could signal the end of Staffordshire Police, the county's police and crime commissioner has warned. Ben Adams told a panel of councillors that Government proposals to merge forces from 43 down to as few as 12 would likely lead to the force's abolition.
Government plans for fewer, larger forces
Earlier this year, the Government announced plans to reduce the number of police forces, arguing that mergers would deliver better value for taxpayers and create a less fragmented system. An independent review led by former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Bernard Hogan-Howe is expected to report its recommendations to the Home Secretary by the summer.
Mr Adams, who will see his own role replaced by a police, fire and crime board by 2028, voiced concerns that a 'super force' covering a wide region could drain resources from rural areas like Leek and South Staffordshire to focus on crime hotspots in larger cities.
Local accountability at risk
Speaking to Staffordshire's police, fire and crime panel, Mr Adams said: 'You don't want, as a police, fire and crime board, in a couple of years' time, to have no real influence on policing in your locality. You can't rely on it being done successfully from Derby or Coventry when we're talking about Leek and South Staffs. They're different places with different needs.'
He stressed the importance of combining regional efficiencies with local delivery and accountability. 'If it goes the way I expect, it will be the end of Staffordshire Police, after a history of really high achievement. So we have to protect what works,' he added.
Comparison with larger forces
Staffordshire Police currently has around 2,000 officers, making it smaller than average among territorial forces. By contrast, Greater Manchester Police and West Midlands Police each have about 8,000 officers, while the Metropolitan Police has around 35,000. Mr Adams warned that a super force approaching the size of the Met would be inefficient and unresponsive to local needs.
'The poorest performing police force in the country, by some margin, is the biggest. The Met is not a blueprint for policing in this country,' he said. 'For me the warning is, don't forget the local. You need not only local delivery but local accountability.'
Impact on rural communities
The commissioner highlighted that currently, Staffordshire Police maintains high visibility in rural areas while balancing resources where demand is higher. He feared that in a larger force, more serious incidents 10 or 20 miles away would always take priority. 'Those people who think their council tax is primarily for visibility and reassurance are going to be very disappointed,' he warned.
He urged councils across Staffordshire to engage in the national conversation about the proposals. No specific merger plans have yet been proposed between Staffordshire Police and neighbouring forces such as West Mercia or Derbyshire.
