Is the Police Reform White Paper really “from local to national” – or the other way round?
Independent Lincolnshire PCC Marc Jones joins Policing TV to give his first reaction to the Home Secretary’s Police Reform White Paper. He questions whether the plans truly strengthen local accountability, warns about the impact on victims and rural communities, the implications for police officers and staff, and argues that fixing police funding might matter more than redrawing force maps. He advocates for a focus on fair funding rather than sweeping reforms that may not address the core issues facing policing today.
Takeaways
- The white paper’s title is ironic, as the reforms drive more top-down, centralised governance.
- Proposals centralise power with the Home Secretary and risk weakening local policing and community connections.
- Abolishing PCCs undermines visible local accountability and the public’s direct voice in policing.
- Force mergers could sideline rural counties like Lincolnshire and push specialist services further from communities.
- The white paper barely mentions victims and says little about the wider system needed to prevent crime.
- Policing should not be seen as solely the responsibility of the police, but of partners across justice, health and local government.
- The 43-force model is not broken; the real problem is the unfair, outdated police funding formula.
- Licence to practise and target-driven reforms risk unintended consequences, damaging officer retention and public confidence.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Police Reform White Paper
03:00 Top-Down Policing Governance Changes
06:05 Impact on Local Communities and Victims
09:04 Concerns Over Policing by Consent
12:05 Implications for Police Officers and Staff
14:46 Funding Formula and Future of Policing
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