‘Change is necessary, but for the right reasons’: branch chair reacts to White Paper

27 January 2026

Branch chair Lisa Flanagan says further clarity is needed from the Home Secretary’s blueprint for major police reform set out yesterday (Monday 26 January).

Shabana Mahmood has announced a White Paper titled ‘From local to national: a new model for policing’, proposing a radical shake-up across England and Wales, including the merging of forces and a license to practise for all officers.

The Government has called it the largest reform of the profession in two centuries, in a bid to strengthen neighbourhood policing, boost national capability against serious and complex crime, save money and streamline resources.

While not opposed to police reform, Lisa has highlighted the need for any potential overhaul to work for individual officers, organisations, and the public.

Branch chair Lisa Flanagan

“Change needs to happen, and few within policing would argue otherwise. The system is under strain, public expectations are high, and officers are being asked to do more with less,” she said.

“The real issue, though, is where that change is focused, and whether these published proposals have been properly thought through.

“For me, the conversation has to start with finances. We’re repeatedly told that reform will deliver savings, but the Paper is unclear about where those savings will actually go. If money is being freed up, will it be reinvested back into frontline policing?

“The public has made clear they want to see more officers, faster response times, and a visible police presence. Savings that don’t translate into operational capacity miss the point entirely.”

White Paper

Lisa went on to question whether the plans outlined in the White Paper would help with the recruitment and retention of police officers in the first place, specifically raising concerns about the proposed licence to practise.

“When it comes to a licence to practise, comparisons are being drawn with professions such as doctors and lawyers, but those comparisons don’t hold up under scrutiny. Those professions are paid accordingly – police officers are not,” Lisa continued.

“Licenses are not cheap, so introducing something that officers may be expected to fund themselves risks becoming yet another financial burden on a workforce that already feels undervalued. Adding an extra cost - on top of existing pressures - will only give officers another reason to leave the service, which is the last thing we need.

“It also increases administrative pressure in a role already drowning in paperwork. Response officers in particular are carrying heavy caseloads while being told to reduce response times, so the contradiction is obvious.”

Another significant element of the White Paper’s proposals is a review which would see the 43 police forces in England and Wales dramatically reduced in number.

Instead, many areas and departments currently dealt with individually would become centralised, such as forensics, counter terrorism, road policing and organised crime.

Restructuring

For Lisa, the idea ‘needs far more clarity’: “While I appreciate that many officers feel loyalty to their force and are wary of change, that alone shouldn’t prevent reform if there are clear benefits. The problem is that those benefits haven’t been convincingly laid out.

“Financial savings are mentioned, but beyond potential reductions through redundancies, it’s unclear where those efficiencies would come from.

“There is also the risk of losing experienced, higher-paid officers in the process - either through restructuring or voluntary exit. Simply reducing the number of forces to a level that is ‘too low’ could weaken local policing rather than strengthen it.

“Ultimately, merging forces without a clear operational advantage raises the question: what difference will it actually make?”

Some specific targets in the White Paper focus on neighbourhood policing, including national aims for response times of 15 minutes in cities and 20 minutes in rural areas for serious incidents.

As part of these objectives, a commitment to answering all 999 calls within 10 seconds has been outlined.

Transition period

According to Lisa, such ambitions would need to ensure officer capacity isn’t damaged before they can be realised, with plans to protect frontline staff during an inevitable transition period yet to be communicated.

Concluding her initial thoughts on the White Paper, she said: “Ultimately, there are too many unanswered questions. These changes will impact thousands of officers and fundamentally alter how policing operates - that cannot be rushed.

“As a Federation, we have a responsibility to speak to our members, understand their views, and represent their concerns. Reform must be shaped with those voices at its core.

“This White Paper needs more work. The detail matters. The research must be clear. And the consequences – intended or otherwise – must be fully understood before any major steps are taken.

“Change is necessary, but it has to happen in the right areas, at the right pace, and for the right reasons.

Federation members are encouraged to engage with their local representatives and provide feedback on the current proposals.

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