'Out of date' policing: Met Commissioner calls for radical overhaul

On 18 January 2026, Sir Mark Rowley, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, accused Britain's policing system of being a “tweaked and bastardised” version of the 1962 royal commission design. He pledged a dramatic overhaul, arguing that the 43 separate police forces across England and Wales create bureaucracy that drains resources from local policing. Rowley called for a reduction in the forces, a clearer national structure and a big investment in technology to better meet national and international threats. His remarks come after Metropolitan Police figures showed London’s homicide count fell to 97 in 2025 – the lowest since 2014 – giving him evidence of the need for reform. The commissioner said the overhaul was overdue and will be hard but necessary.