The government outlines historic changes. This includes the establishment of a new National Police Service. This includes mandatory licensing for officers and significant investments in technology to combat modern crime.
On 26 January 2026, the UK government announced plans to consolidate 43 police forces. National bodies like the NCA and College of Policing are to form a single National Police Service.
The reforms aim to enhance accountability and modernise policing. Also, to introduce mandatory police licences, besides the use of new technologies to address crimes with digital elements.
The new National Police Service will centralise functions, such as forensics and procurement. It’s projected to save USD 479.5 million and reinvest savings to support frontline policing.
On January 26, 2026, the United Kingdom unveiled the most sweeping police reforms in over two centuries. This set the stage for a radical transformation in how law enforcement operates across both England and Wales. The government’s white paper is titled From Local to National: A New Model for Policing. It outlines an ambitious vision for modernising policing. Additionally, the paper aims to enhance accountability and utilise new technologies to effectively address the rapidly changing crime landscape.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood presented the details to Parliament. Mahmood declared a bold intent to overhaul a system last fundamentally redesigned in the ‘60s. According to the official government release, the reforms aim to consolidate the current patchwork of 43 police forces. They have long operated in silos, so they are likely to now move as a more coherent and efficient structure. This move is designed to address what Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council Chief Constable Gavin Stephens described as the most significant change in policing in the last half-century. It would enable policing to prepare to fight crime and protect the public over the next half-century.
