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Police Reform White Paper 2026-01-26
26 January 2026
Lead MP
The Secretary of State for the Home Department Shabana Mahmood
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Policing & Resources
Other Contributors: 62
At a Glance
The Secretary of State for the Home Department Shabana Mahmood raised concerns about police reform white paper 2026-01-26 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
Policing & Resources
Government Statement
Today, I am making a statement on police reform. Policing is not broken but faces challenges like an epidemic of everyday crime and criminals operating online across borders. Since taking office, we have restored focus on neighbourhood policing, targeting 13,000 more neighbourhood officers by the end of Parliament with 2,400 already back on patrol. We aim to introduce a neighbourhood policing ringfence to ensure uniformed officers are out in communities fighting crime. Our reforms will create a new national police service focused on national responsibilities and replace the current patchwork of local forces with regional forces for specialist investigations and smaller local policing areas. The roll-out includes live facial recognition technologies, which have led to 1,700 arrests in London, and a £115 million investment in AI and automation under 'police.AI'. We will set common standards for technology and officer performance, introduce new vetting requirements, and restore the Home Secretary's power to dismiss chief constables. These are significant changes to policing structures and accountability.
Chris Philp
Con
Croydon South
Question
The shadow home secretary criticises the lack of mention in the statement about total police officer numbers falling under this Labour Government, with figures due for release later showing a decline. Chris mentions that officer numbers are decreasing even further, especially in the Metropolitan Police, which will lose over 1,500 officers this financial year.
Meg Hillier
Lab/Co-op
Hackney South and Shoreditch
Question
In London, neighbourhood policing is vital but too many officers are dealing with national issues. How will the Home Secretary ensure that teams remain dedicated to local areas?
Minister reply
All national functions will ultimately sit within a new National Police Service, ensuring consistency of approach across the country and protecting local community focus.
Cheltenham
Question
The Liberal Democrat spokesperson welcomes the commitment to restore proper community policing but raises concerns about resource allocation and bias in facial recognition technology. Will the Home Secretary ensure that counter-terrorism and intelligence work is not undermined?
Minister reply
We will continue increasing neighbourhood police officers, ensuring they are out policing communities instead of desk jobs. Facial recognition technology will have safeguards to prevent biased practices.
Clapham and Brixton Hill
Question
Welcomes the deployment of additional neighbourhood officers but asks about measures to address issues of police mistrust and racial bias in Lambeth.
Minister reply
Reassures the hon. Member that all policing reforms, including technology roll-outs, will align with the race action plan to ensure equitable treatment across communities.
Roger Gale
Con
Herne Bay and Sandwich
Question
Questions whether a regional force covering a vast geographic area can be effectively policed locally.
Minister reply
Reassures the right hon. Member that local policing areas will remain intact, providing tailored services to meet specific needs while ensuring economies of scale for specialist functions.
Jo White
Lab
Bassetlaw
Question
Expresses support for combining NCA and counter-terror units within the NPS.
Minister reply
Agrees that this reform will tackle inefficiencies, duplication of effort, and lack of information sharing by integrating national responsibilities into a single organisation.
Gregory Stafford
Con
Farnham and Bordon
Question
Asks if proposals will be scrapped if chief constables oppose them.
Minister reply
Replies that the review process is genuine, aiming to determine the correct number of regional forces based on practical considerations.
Gerald Jones
Lab
Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare
Question
Asks about improving feedback mechanisms for victims of crime.
Minister reply
Commits to ensuring consistent implementation of the victims’ code to improve trust and accountability in policing.
North East Fife
Question
Questions if lessons are being learned from the Police Scotland experience, and asks about resourcing for back-office functions.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the need to learn from past experiences but highlights that the focus is on delivering efficient services through regional forces.
Alex Sobel
Lab/Co-op
Leeds Central and Headingley
Question
The Home Secretary is retaining the role of democratically elected metro mayors in overseeing police forces. Concerned about AI bias, he asks how to ensure that data used for artificial intelligence does not contain racial biases, and how national security will be protected when major AI companies are foreign-owned.
Minister reply
Reassuring Alex Sobel, Shabana Mahmood confirms strong measures in place for the use of data in police services. Future capability will sit with the National Police Service setting high standards with transparency to ensure effective use without contravening collective values.
David Davis
Con
Goole and Pocklington
Question
Concerned about significant error rates of digital facial ID and AI, particularly affecting racial minorities, he asks for an acceptable error rate for these technologies, support for compensation to those misidentified, and if reforms will be based on primary legislation.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary assures robust safeguards are in place through consultation. She aims to stress-test use of technology effectively for policing without contravening collective values.
Lewis Atkinson
Lab
Sunderland Central
Question
Welcoming the statement, he seeks more detail on how public order responsibilities will sit between a national body and regional forces, as well as funding streams for such responsibilities.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary explains a national command role specifically for public order policing. Funding details for future financial years are provided in upcoming publications.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
Congratulating the Home Secretary on strong Back Bencher support, he asks about governance of the new structure including executive key people to ensure relevance maintained in rural areas.
Minister reply
The White Paper envisages changes to accountability mechanisms at every level with a national police commissioner and high performance expectations.
Matt Bishop
Lab
Forest of Dean
Question
Welcoming the reforms, he questions what makes this Government different from previous ones that tried but failed.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary thanks for support and highlights buy-in from policing leaders and officers across the country.
Pete Wishart
SNP
Perth and Kinross-shire
Question
Concerned about 'British FBI' applying only to England and Wales, not Scotland, he asks for clarity that it will not apply to Scotland.
Minister reply
Shabana Mahmood confirms the National Police Service’s powers vary between regions: full operational powers in England and Wales but operations with agreement in Scotland.
Rachel Hopkins
Lab
Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Question
Confirming local accountability, community engagement and place-based policing will remain central to the Government’s approach.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary confirms this 100%.
Alec Shelbrooke
Con
Wetherby and Easingwold
Question
Interested in consultation on smaller policing areas, he asks who will be involved and how much credence given to local level views.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary discusses details with the right hon. Gentleman about reviewer involvement and consultation.
Jonathan Hinder
Lab
Pendle and Clitheroe
Question
Welcoming some elements but sceptical about licence to practise value, he questions direct entry at inspector rank.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary addresses his concerns with an open mind.
Robert Jenrick
Con
Nottingham West
Question
If policing reform is to be a success, it will be down to the implementation on the frontline—that is what really matters to the public—so the voices of those on the frontline must be a key part, and that cannot be possible through the rotten Police Federation, which only today was found to have unlawfully suspended elected officers for speaking up. Will the Home Secretary guarantee that she will take the voices of the frontline into account before making final decisions, and will she meet me to discuss the proposals?
Minister reply
What my hon. Friend's constituents will see is the increase in neighbourhood police officers—we will have 3,000 in place by the end of March—and a named, contactable officer in every neighbourhood. The neighbourhood policing guarantee is the absolute bedrock for ensuring that communities, wherever they are—in London or other parts of the country—always have visible policing in their neighbourhoods.
Shabana Mahmood
Lab
Nottingham North
Question
I will absolutely take into account the views of the rank and file, and I will be happy to meet my hon. Friend. As for the Police Federation, the White Paper makes it clear that we are not happy with the status quo. The Policing Minister has met its representatives directly, and they know that if they do not improve quickly enough, I will not hesitate to bring forward further reforms to ensure that our rank and file police officers are better represented.
Twickenham
Question
The White Paper states, on page 24: ‘To build trust and increase accessibility, officers will also maintain a visible presence in local hubs, schools and community spaces’. May I ask the Home Secretary how that vision marries with the fact that in London, under the Met’s “tough choices” programme, we are about to see the closure of the Twickenham police station front counter? We have already lost our specialist schools team and we have lost our specialist parks police, including those in Bushy Park in my constituency. Does this not show that the Home Secretary can make as many reforms to structures as she likes, but if they are not resourced properly, our constituents will not see the community policing that she is promising?
Minister reply
What the hon. Lady’s constituents will see is the increase in neighbourhood police officers—we will have 3,000 in place by the end of March—and a named, contactable officer in every neighbourhood. The neighbourhood policing guarantee is the absolute bedrock for ensuring that communities, wherever they are—in London or other parts of the country—always have visible policing in their neighbourhoods.
Cardiff West
Question
I thank the Home Secretary for her statement, and I pay tribute to all those who serve to keep us safe. In respect of the impact that this will have on Wales, can she assure me that she will consult all local partners—MPs, police forces, local government and the Welsh Government—in order to determine what local scrutiny of governance looks like in Wales as part of these reforms?
Minister reply
Let me assure my hon. Friend that the Policing Minister met representatives of the Welsh Government today, and we will continue those conversations. The independent review will take into account existing devolution and local governance arrangements, and I will happily ensure that he and others who are interested in this are kept updated as the review rolls out.
Ashley Fox
Con
Bridgwater
Question
My constituents are already concerned that Avon and Somerset constabulary is dominated by Bristol and that far too few resources are devoted to Somerset’s smaller towns and villages. How will the Home Secretary ensure that her new, larger regional forces police our rural communities properly?
Minister reply
I can assure the hon. Gentleman that there will be local policing areas within the new regional forces, with neighbourhood policing as the absolute bedrock of those local policing areas. I would not be bringing forward these reforms if I was not absolutely certain that we are absolutely protecting local policing in the set-up of the new model for policing, so that every area gets the type of policing it needs and deserves.
Julie Minns
Lab
Carlisle
Question
Last Friday I held a community meeting with Cumbria’s police, fire and crime commissioner, David Allen. Since his election just 20 months ago, he has been focused on taking those officers who were forced into the back room under the last Government and putting them back on the frontline. Can the Home Secretary please reassure me, and our police, fire and crime commissioner, that the reforms she has outlined today will continue to strengthen frontline policing, particularly in rural areas such as Cumbria?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes an incredibly powerful point. I can provide her with that reassurance, and the Policing Minister spoke to her police, fire and crime commissioner today.
Martin Vickers
Con
Brigg and Immingham
Question
The Humberside force that polices my Brigg and Immingham constituency covers four local authorities and two separate mayoral authorities. Exactly what proportion of police funding is likely to come from the police precept, and how will it be divided up?
Minister reply
Those will be matters for the independent reviewer to advise on. They will look not only at the correct number of regional forces for England and Wales, but at the method of rolling out those police forces. I am sure we will be able to discuss those when the review reports in the summer.
Afzal Khan
Lab
Manchester Rusholme
Question
As a former police officer, I welcome the Home Secretary’s statement. Under its current chief constable, Greater Manchester police has seen a resurgence and has become a highly performing police force that serves a growing and economically successful city region. That is in part because of a highly effective working partnership between Greater Manchester local authorities and the mayoral combined authority. Can the Home Secretary provide an assurance that the current structure, which is clearly working well, will not be altered?
Minister reply
It will be for the review to recommend what the new structure of the regional forces should look like, but let me pay tribute to the work of Greater Manchester police and the chief constable in particular. Greater Manchester is a very good example of a large force that is not burdened by significant national services. It is therefore able to concentrate on policing its local communities, and to do so very effectively.
Lisa Smart
LD
Hazel Grove
Question
In Greater Manchester we love a bit of drama. We have the longest-running soap opera in the world—‘Coronation Street’—we have some nail-biting derby matches, and over the weekend there was some pretty high-octane speculation about whether the current person responsible for policing in the city region might be allowed to apply for another job. Where we do not want more drama, though, is in policing our communities. Could the Home Secretary share her thinking about how to preserve what works well in Greater Manchester—where the police force is coterminous with the mayoral authority and the 10 local authorities within it, enabling good, strong partnership working—so that my Hazel Grove constituents get the policing they deserve?
Minister reply
Let me reassure the hon. Lady that I am very much ‘No Drama Shabana’. I have already paid fulsome tribute to Greater Manchester police, and I think some excellent work is taking place in that part of the world. I am sure that the reviewer, once appointed, will take into account good examples of local policing within a larger force structure, and I am sure there are many lessons to learn from Manchester.
Aylesbury
Question
I thank the Home Secretary for her action. One local farmer described to me the crime he has been experiencing, with gates cut open, crops damaged, and quad bikes and 4x4s stolen. Because he lives close to the Bedfordshire border, the criminals just flee over the border, and Thames Valley police finds it very difficult to follow that up. Can she say how these reforms will improve the police presence and their response times in rural areas, and in particular how they will solve the problem of police forces not collaborating across borders?
Minister reply
The absolute bedrock of these reforms is local policing through the local police areas, which will be part of our proposed regional forces, with neighbourhood policing embedded within them. My hon. Friend will know that legislative changes are coming in to deal with some of the issues she raised about quad bikes specifically. The intention of all these reforms is to ensure that whether people live in a rural area or an urban city, as I do, they get an exceptional standard of service at both the neighbourhood level and the regional level, with national policing through the new National Police Service that will keep us all safe.
Mark Pritchard
Con
The Wrekin
Question
We all want to see more effective and efficient policing, but I am not quite sure whether this White Paper will deliver it. Clearly, the devil will be in the detail. The Home Secretary will know that West Mercia police, covering Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, is a high-performing police force. Can she reassure my constituents that she understands the difference between, for example, West Midlands urban policing—she obviously oversees it, but she also lives in that jurisdiction—and the rural and semi-rural policing of forces such as West Mercia police? In my experience, regional counter-terrorism policing works very well in the West Midlands, which oversees that for West Mercia police as well, and so does the National Crime Agency under its excellent leadership. Finally on the reforms, can I ask the Home Secretary to review the effectiveness and efficiency of the 101 service, and as the Official Secrets Act covers some police officers, but not all, is this not an opportunity to ensure that all police officers are covered by a duty of confidentiality and secrecy?
Minister reply
I respect the right hon. Gentleman’s views, but it is precisely because I understand the difference, which he raises, between areas such as those he represents and those I represent that I am bringing in this new model for policing. I believe this is the right model to ensure that it does not much matter where people are in the country—whether Shropshire or inner-city Birmingham —because they will always have excellent, high-quality neighbourhood policing, with a local force entirely committed to policing their local area day in, day out, and dealing with all the crimes that we know are tearing at the fabric of our communities; a regional force, which can do the specialist investigations at scale, so that they do not get a different standard of service depending on which part of the country they are in; and a National Police Service that I believe will bring in the NCA and counter-terrorism policing in a way that will make sure we are all kept safe. We are the only major country that does not have those two functionalities together, and I think it is the right change to make.
Andrew Mitchell
Con
Sutton Coldfield
Question
It must be right to look at this White Paper with an open mind, and I commend the Home Secretary’s willingness to listen. In Royal Sutton Coldfield we are most concerned that neighbourhood policing—community policing—should be accountable, dependable, reliable and accessible. We know that all policing is, above all, local. Secondly, will she bear in mind that strong leadership is the key to policing? We need to find ways of bringing in fresh blood at senior levels. Will she make it easier for that to happen?
Minister reply
The right hon. Gentleman is a Birmingham neighbour of mine; I always take what he has to say seriously. I agree with him on everything he said about neighbourhood policing and its responsiveness to the local communities that it serves. The Blunkett review will shortly report. It has been looking at leadership in policing, and I am sure that those recommendations will touch on some of the issues that the right hon. Gentleman raised.
Gareth Snell
Lab/Co-op
Stoke-on-Trent Central
Question
The litany of failures under the Conservatives of Staffordshire police is too long to mention in the short time that I have for this question. The Home Secretary mentioned local accountability being done through mayors and police and crime boards. Where we will have mayors in areas smaller than those of the likely police forces, can she say more about how she anticipates that accountability working? Can she also say what accountability there will be for local policing areas?
Minister reply
Let me assure my hon. Friend that accountability at both national and local level is critical to these reforms. Once the review has reported on what the shape of those new regional forces should be, we will be able to say more on the exact relationship between areas where there is a crossover of mayoralties, as well as for local policing and crime boards. It is absolutely the intention that, at every level, there will be obvious accountability for local responsiveness and performance. That goes right up to the national level, where the Home Secretary will have new powers going forward.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Question
I refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests—specifically, my role as the co-chair of the Justice Unions Parliamentary Group. The White Paper recognises that changes to policing governance and crime prevention in Wales will have to reflect the existence of more than a quarter of a century of devolution. Meanwhile, three independent commissions have recommended that justice and policing be devolved to Wales. Considering that around 56% of our police funding in Wales already comes from devolved sources, does the Home Secretary not agree that this package of radical changes is exactly the right time for the devolution of policing to Wales?
Minister reply
No, I do not.
Jack Abbott
Lab/Co-op
Ipswich
Question
I warmly welcome the Home Secretary’s statement. I would like to highlight two Government initiatives—Clear, Hold, Build and Operation Machinize—with our hard-working police force that are making a real difference in Ipswich. Although we received a welcome multimillion pound uplift in police funding, we have been majorly short-changed over the years, as one of the worst funded local authorities for more than a decade. Can the Home Secretary assure me that these changes will result in extra resources that we desperately need to continue the good progress that we have made in Ipswich and Suffolk?
Minister reply
We will say more about the funding settlement for the coming year in just a few days’ time, but my hon. Friend will know—and I hope he will welcome—that every force, wherever they are in the country, will see a real-terms increase in funding. We propose to deal with the wider questions about the police funding formula once we have the review and we know what the recommendations are for regional forces going forward.
Torbay
Question
The basic command unit that includes Torbay does not have services such as firearms officers or roads officers. Will the Home Secretary give clear guidance that all basic command units should include such disciplines?
Minister reply
Going forward, in the new model, it will be obvious where those disciplines sit, whether that is in the National Police Service or within regional forces, right down to the neighbourhood level. The intention of the new model is to ensure that, wherever someone is in the country, they get an excellent quality of service, including all the capabilities that are needed to keep our communities safe.
Steve Race
Lab
Exeter
Question
I welcome the statement and the improvements to policing that I am already seeing in Exeter thanks to a 13% increase in funding, with 171 officers newly on the streets across Devon and Cornwall. As the Secretary of State consults on police force structures, can she confirm that strong local policing and operational leadership will remain core to the service and that we remain committed to improving standards—important across Devon and Cornwall—which are key to public confidence in policing?
Minister reply
I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. Responsibility for high standards across the whole service will in future sit with the National Police Service, but in the meantime I am working closely with police leaders everywhere to ensure our standards are as strong as they can be, so that no matter where you are in the country, you get the quality of service that you deserve.
Wendy Morton
Con
Aldridge-Brownhills
Question
On this Government’s watch, in the west midlands we now face a £41 million black hole, which we are told will lead to a reduction in policing numbers. Under these new reforms, how will the Home Secretary ensure we see a net increase in the west midlands, particularly in my constituency?
Minister reply
Under this Government, we have increased funding to forces by close to £2 billion since being elected, and the funding settlement for 2026-27 is an increase of £796 million based on the year before. It is this Government who are funding police.
Harpreet Uppal
Lab
Huddersfield
Question
I welcome in particular the commitment to visible and neighbourhood policing. Many towns across the country continue to face challenges with organised crime and county lines networks. How will the reforms help to tackle that systematically? May I ask the Home Secretary about the future role of violence reduction units, which are really important in providing new focused prevention work?
Minister reply
I will say more about specific funding decisions in the coming days, but let me reassure my hon. Friend that we absolutely recognise the role that violence reduction units play in dealing with knife crime in particular. Let me also reassure her that local police areas within regional forces will ensure that every community, wherever it is, gets the high standard of service that everyone deserves.
Sarah Bool
Con
South Northamptonshire
Question
My concern is about the regional and local levels. In South Northamptonshire, my villages already really struggle to get attention because it always goes to Northampton, Kettering and Corby. The regional system may make that worse, so how will the local areas actually work in practice? If they stick to existing sizes, I will have 96 parishes who still will not get attention, unless we exclude the major towns.
Minister reply
It is precisely because I have given thought to the problems the hon. Lady raises that I brought the reforms forward in the first place. Within our regional forces we will have local police areas, which will be very clear when I bring forward legislation to this House, with the specific remit of policing their local communities.
Tristan Osborne
Lab
Chatham and Aylesford
Question
The recent National Audit Office report into police productivity highlights inconsistency in the operational and financial resilience of police forces, which suffered after the criminal inaction of the Conservative party. Will the Home Secretary set out how the National Police Service will enhance collaboration, while maintaining neighbourhood policing, including in my Kent villages and communities?
Minister reply
The National Police Service will take over many of the administrative functions that are currently done 43 different ways by chief constables across the country, including lifting the burden of procurement. That will now be done once through the National Police Service, saving time, preventing duplication and increasing the effectiveness of policing.
Siân Berry
Green
Brighton Pavilion
Question
Will the Home Secretary give us some clarity on the bespoke legal framework on police AI? Will its scope be commendably narrow, getting police use of facial recognition under control while clearly outlawing other uses, which would match the EU’s AI Act, or will it be too narrow, leaving other public authorities, such as potentially the Border Force, local authorities and the private sector, in the ungoverned wild west of uses that we see now?
Minister reply
We are very much focused just on policing and we are consulting on those matters as we speak.
Dave Robertson
Lab
Lichfield
Question
In my part of the world, people who get in touch with me about crime raise four major issues: car crime, county lines, antisocial behaviour and retail crime. The first two are often caused by criminal networks that extend beyond Staffordshire, and into the west midlands and further beyond. Will the Home Secretary confirm that the reforms are aimed at ensuring there is a regional response to those cross-border crimes, allowing local police to focus on antisocial behaviour and retail crime?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is 100% right—that is exactly the intention of the reforms, and it is how we will ensure that we have a new model for policing that can serve every community and deal effectively with every type of crime.
Welwyn Hatfield
Question
I say this because other trades and professions that have licencing, annual appraisal, or periodic revalidation have found that it simply becomes a time-sapping industry. I am sure that is not the Home Secretary’s plan for the police.
Minister reply
Let me assure the right hon. Gentleman that we will work closely with the police as we develop the new licence to practise. We want to strike the right balance between ensuring our officers are up-to-date on training and investing in their skills, without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
Derby North
Question
Can the Home Secretary tell us more about how the reforms will empower local forces to respond more effectively to everyday crime and antisocial behaviour?
Minister reply
Dealing with everyday crime and antisocial behaviour is at the heart of our reforms. The new regional forces will undertake specialist investigations, ensuring that we have consistent standards of service across the country. Local police areas within these regions will ensure effective neighbourhood policing.
Greg Smith
Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
Question
Given that Thames Valley finds itself with a budget settlement £9 million lower than expected and only 40% of new recruits funded, what confidence can we have that the Government will adequately fund bigger forces?
Minister reply
The reforms in the White Paper are fully funded. Every force in the country will see a real-terms increase in funding in the new police settlement. The new model aims to balance neighbourhood policing and specialist regional investigations.
Jas Athwal
Lab
Ilford South
Question
How will the reforms help raise standards, increase numbers and strengthen public confidence in our police?
Minister reply
We have already made changes on vetting and investing in staff to ensure high standards of service. The reforms aim to rebuild public trust by delivering consistent policing standards.
Rebecca Paul
Con
Reigate
Question
Will a merger of Surrey police with neighbouring forces divert resources away from communities in Surrey?
Minister reply
I do not accept that areas will miss out under the new model. Ensuring we have a policing model capable of delivering for every type of community and dealing with all types of crime is exactly the point of our reforms.
Peter Swallow
Lab
Bracknell
Question
Does the Home Secretary agree that neighbourhood-level policing, driven by community concerns, should be the new model?
Minister reply
I 100% agree with my hon. Friend. The changes we are bringing in will improve our ability to meet challenges faced by communities across the country.
Vikki Slade
Lib Dem
Mid Dorset and North Poole
Question
What assurances can be given that seasonality will be factored into the new funding formula?
Minister reply
Once we have completed the review of regional forces, we will announce plans for reviewing the police funding formula.
Yuan Yang
Lab
Earley and Woodley
Question
Will the Secretary of State or her Ministers come to visit the newly opened Reading police station in my constituency?
Minister reply
Just a few days ago, I was out meeting neighbourhood officers dealing with retail crime. Either the Minister for Policing or I will avail ourselves of a visit to Reading.
Robin Swann
UUP
South Antrim
Question
Will the Police Service of Northern Ireland be able to access some of the counter-terrorism policing grant?
Minister reply
The legal basis for how counter-terror policing works will not change under the new National Police Service, but I will look at what the hon. Gentleman says about funding specifically.
Jim Dickson
Lab
Dartford
Question
Does the Home Secretary agree it is crucial that the White Paper rebuilds trust between communities and police across the country?
Minister reply
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. Policing is a public service, essential for maintaining high confidence in our policing standards no matter where people live.
Ben Obese-Jecty
Con
Huntingdon
Question
Could the Home Secretary outline how the formula will be changed to reflect the division of tasks between the National Police Service and regional forces?
Minister reply
Once the review’s work on recommendations for new regional forces has completed in the summer, I will set out further proposals on how the police funding formula needs to be reviewed. I can also offer a meeting with the Policing Minister to discuss issues like rural crime action teams and officer pay.
Jonathan Brash
Lab
Hartlepool
Question
Does the Home Secretary agree that the proposals will only be successful if such cuts are reversed?
Minister reply
I can reassure my hon. Friend that our goal is to improve police service across every part of the country, with neighbourhood policing as the bedrock. We want high standards and public confidence in policing no matter where people live.
Sarah Dyke
Lib Dem
Glastonbury and Somerton
Question
Will the Home Secretary commit to a countryside copper guarantee with dedicated rural crime teams?
Minister reply
We want confidence in policing to be high everywhere. The reforms aim to address challenges faced by communities, including those affected by organised crime.
Hendon
Question
Welcomes the Home Secretary’s statement and asks how the reforms will tackle local crime, including support operations like 'clear, hold, build' in Colindale.
Minister reply
The new model for policing will ensure that wherever people live in the country, they will have a high standard of service. It deals with every type of crime through the National Police Service and local police areas.
Calum Miller
Lib Dem
Bicester and Woodstock
Question
Invites the Home Secretary to talk about waste crime, which has been described as 'the new narcotics'. He asks if she will ask the National Police Service to take responsibility for tackling major waste crime.
Minister reply
The National Police Service will deal with serious and organised crime involving waste crime. The minister is happy to arrange a meeting with the hon. Gentleman.
Connor Naismith
Lab
Crewe and Nantwich
Question
Welcomes measures ensuring that warranted police officers go where they are needed, particularly by scrapping the failed police uplift model.
Minister reply
Numbers matter, but what matters more is what those officers are doing. These reforms ensure that officers will be out fighting crime.
Richard Foord
Lib Dem
Honiton and Sidmouth
Question
Asks for assurance that mergers will mean cases and residents will no longer be bounced between neighbouring police forces.
Minister reply
The new model for policing ensures that victims of crime get a good standard of service, regardless of where they are in the country.
Chris Vince
Labour/Co-op
Harlow
Question
Welcomes reforms and asks for more detail on how direct entry might look in modern police forces like Harlow’s.
Minister reply
The White Paper signals interest in the direct entry model. Lord Blunkett will report shortly on his review of policing leadership.
Jim Allister
TUV
North Antrim
Question
Asks for clarification regarding the National Police Service being UK-wide and whether there could be an opt-out or opt-in in regions like Northern Ireland.
Minister reply
The Policing Minister has met representatives of the Northern Ireland Government, and the minister is happy to meet hon. Members from Northern Ireland to discuss this further.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
Asks for confirmation that Northern Ireland will be fully included in the National Police Service.
Minister reply
The National Police Service will be able to carry out operations only with the agreement of the legally designated authority, reflecting current arrangements.
Shadow Comment
Chris Philp
Shadow Comment
The shadow home secretary criticises the lack of mention in the statement about total police officer numbers falling under this Labour Government, with figures due for release later showing a decline. Chris mentions that officer numbers are decreasing even further, especially in the Metropolitan Police, which will lose over 1,500 officers this financial year.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.