MP and PCC lead local opposition to proposed force mergers

30 January 2026

A Suffolk MP and the county’s PCC have voiced their opposition to government plans to merge police forces nationwide.

Nick Timothy, Conservative MP for West Suffolk, has made clear he is 'strongly opposed' to any merger between Suffolk and Norfolk police forces – a stance he first set out in the House of Commons last year.

Addressing fellow MPs, Mr Timothy warned that merging forces would push decision-making even further away from local people.

“We need the police really focused on local crimes - burglaries, street crime - and that requires strong local accountability,” he said.

Now, Mr Timothy has launched a public petition opposing any merger and is urging Suffolk residents and members of the wider policing family to sign.

Petition

He added: “Suffolk Police serve a county with the third lowest crime rate in the country.

“This change would make policing more distant and less responsive to ordinary people - and local residents are deeply concerned about that.”

Tim Passmore, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk, also said he was ‘sceptical of creating mega forces’.

“I don't see how that is going to help rural areas," he said.

“We have got the third recorded lowest crime rate, how are any changes going to improve what we have got?

Tim Passmore, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk

"I think they need to take into account that larger forces are not always better."

Their comments follow the publication of the Government’s Police Reform White Paper, described as 'the most significant overhaul of policing in 200 years'.

Among its proposals is a dramatic reduction in the number of police forces across England and Wales – a move that has reignited fears over large-scale mergers.

Those concerns are shared by Suffolk Police Federation vice chair Matt Paisley, who has welcomed the involvement of Mr Timothy and Mr Passmore in the debate.

“I’m extremely pleased to see our local MPs and PCC engaging in conversations around Police Reform,” he said.

“They will be vital in giving us a voice, and we thank Mr Timothy and Mr Passmore for being so proactive already.”

Reform

Matt warned that size alone does not guarantee better policing.

“Bigger organisations do not automatically deliver better outcomes,” said Matt, who added that the impact would extend far beyond the workplace.

“Our officers don’t just work in Suffolk - they live here. A merger might affect their jobs, families, and quality of life.

"While I recognise that change needs to happen, it's important that all proposals are carefully considered.

“Any reform must be shaped by officers’ real experiences on the ground and by the needs of the public."

The Federation is now calling on its members to participate in the consultation and share their views on the White Paper’s proposals.

“For Police Reform to succeed, it has to be built around how officers actually feel,” Matt said. “As your Federation, the only way we can truly represent you is by hearing your voice.”

Read the key takeaways from the White Paper.