Planned reforms risk 'separating police from communities'

MAJOR policing reforms expected to drastically cut the number of forces across England and Wales would be “complex to deliver” and risk separating police forces from communities they serve, a policing body has warned.

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Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is poised to unveil the largest overhaul of policing in decades on Monday, in an effort to tackle what UK Government sources called “an epidemic of everyday offences”.

The changes will see the number of forces slashed from their current level of 43, and tasked with focusing on serious and organised crime along with complex investigations such as homicides.

At the lower level, each town, city and borough will be formed into a “local policing area” - with neighbourhood officers focused on local crime such as shoplifting and antisocial behaviour.