Federation responds to White Paper on police reform

27 January 2026

The Government’s plans for police reform announced in yesterday’s White Paper will only succeed if delivers for the public, victims of crime and serving officers.

That is the view of West Midlands Police Federation chair Jess Davies, who says no one in policing believes the current model is perfect, least of all officers on the frontline.

“We support the case for police reform fully, but it’s got to be driven by evidence and significant funding and without that it will fail,” Jess explained.

“Change is needed but bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better and we must remember that you can slice the workforce into smaller pieces, but you’ve still got the same size workforce. Policing is already understaffed, overworked and haemorrhaging experience. Morale is the worst I’ve ever known.

“The licence to practise is a particular concern for me as it will come at a cost to the officers no doubt. Resignations have now exceeded retirements for the first time ever and I fear a further mass exodus.

“The Government has a duty to protect the public, but you don’t keep people safe by starving policing of funds and then pretending regulation will fix it. 

“The package of reforms set out in the White Paper pulls in opposite directions at the same time. You can’t say you want stability and professionalism while constantly changing the policing model, centralising powers one day and talking up localism the next.

“No one in policing is pretending the current model is perfect and reform is necessary. But the issue is whether this proposed reform is coherent and properly costed.”

The national Federation has also responded to the White Paper and says the case is clear for ending the postcode lottery of funding, policy and support for officers.

It has also expressed concern about the concept of a “licence to practise” for police officers and published five tests that reform must pass if it is to deliver.