Former Met Commissioner to lead review of number of forces

6 March 2026

Former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Bernard Hogan-Howe has been appointed by the Government to head the Independent Review of Police Force Structures intended to lead to a smaller number of larger forces across England and Wales. 

The review will make evidence-based recommendations on force mergers as set out in the Police Reform White Paper which was launched at the end of January.

Substance

West Midlands Police Federation secretary Tim Rogers said he welcomed the appointment of Lord Hogan-Howe, who led the Met from 2011 – 2017, but argued there needed to be more substance behind the Government’s plans to dramatically reduce the number of forces.

“Lord Hogan-Howe certainly has plenty of experience in the police service so you would hope that he will be able to make sensible recommendations for how the plans in the White Paper are put into action,” says Tim.

“I am sure he is well aware, however, that it’s not just about delivering the reform Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has set out. There needs to be real substance behind those plans.

“The plans will only successfully bring about the reform the Government wants if they are matched with strategic financial foresight and that is sadly lacking in the White Paper.

“The police service is in crisis right now. Morale is low and officers are leaving in their droves so that we seem to have a revolving door with experienced cops quitting almost as fast as we are getting new recruits through the door. This has to be addressed as a matter of urgency, along with the fact that police officer pay has fallen by more than 20 per cent since 2010.

“There are some fundamental issues – such as sustained investment in policing - that need to be considered before the Government even starts to look at the number of forces we have. These issues are not going to go away and will go on to haunt the Home Office further down the line if they are not prioritised.”

Tests

Responding to the publication of the White Paper, the Police Federation of England and Wales detailed five tests that police reform must meet:

Test 1: (Leadership and structure)
Does reform give officers and the public clarity, consistency and confidence in how policing is structured and led?

Test 2: (Funding and resourcing)
Does reform properly resource policing for the demands officers are facing now and will face in the future?

Test 3: (Workplace safety and fairness)
Does reform create a fair, safe and modern workplace that protects officers and supports them under pressure?

Test 4: (Tools and systems)
Does reform give officers the tools, systems and time they need to police effectively rather than firefight bureaucracy?

Test 5: (Confidence and legitimacy)
Does reform rebuild trust and confidence in policing by valuing professionalism, attracting the right people and retaining the right experience?

Lord Hogan-Howe’s review will, according to the Government, identify the optimum number of forces and the geographic areas they will cover. It will also consider how the new forces are governed and held accountable to ensure the new system is effective in delivering local policing across the country and responding to the priorities of local communities.