Do you think the UK would be better policed by one large force?

Question

... instead of the current regionalised forces which means no one major force has universal jurisdiction.

most other european countries have one big national force supported by para military police in rural areas - this does not work very well according to chum in the Gendarme (para militey police) in France, who says that the rural policing units are neglected and woefully underfunded.

however, the UK does not do this, so why not unite all the forces? - too complex? too political? wouldn't reduce crime? however, surely it would improve communications and efficiency.

Answer 1

Anything big become uncaring, they crush any thing small and don't even see it.

Answer 2

Good question.

Police forces (or services as most are now known) are run by the police authority for their area. This consists of magistrates, local councillors and lay persons. The chief constable of the particular force answers to them and the Home Secretary. He does, however, retail full operational control of the force, subject (rarely) to review by the courts.

This organisation provides several benefits. One is that each authority can police their “area” differently, according to the different needs and the chief can be sacked if he does not perform. The home secretary can also set “national police targets”. As you will appreciate Wales will have a different set of priorities than Greater London but certain threats are country wide.

There is a national police force in SOCA the Serious Organised Crime Agency, which has a countrywide jurisdiction for only certain crimes.

Police chiefs, police authorities and constitutional lawyers have resisted amalgamation of all police  forces for many reasons. In my (humble) view, as a constitutional watcher, the main reason why there is resistance is that it would give the Government direct control over the police. A “State Police” if you will. I am sure I don't have to remind you of the horror stories we have all heard of  state police control.

It is a constitutional convention that the police forces are independent and the army are NEVER used to police civilians.

I am REALLY glad you asked that one.

xxVP

Answer 3

There is alot to be said for a national force, New Zealand where i am from has one, so in terms of logistics, systems, accurante information sharing and admin its all one force and likely economical and easier to run.

That said however its split into internal regions so the management of each area is self run/managing by senior officers so if the UK went the same way it would have to be split into regions anyhow, joan has pointed out a key fact, local knowledge is paramount to best policing in terms of contacting with the public so i would suggest that any merger be into a larger area forces rather than a national force.

Answer 4

There's good and bad both ways. National police forces can shift resources around, and even rural area can get the benefit of special units. Your Gendarmerie friend hit the downside, that a lot of the resources can be hogged by the more influential areas. (You're a bit off on France, though. National Police handles cities and larger towns and is Department of Justice, while Gendarmerie handles rural areas and is Department of Defense. There is also CRS, ports, airports and public facilities security. Not quite one big national police.)  

But it's hard to effectively complain about a national police force. When policing is local, you can complain locally to an elected official who is more likely to respond. National police fixes some problems, like local political influence, and creates other problems. It's not the structure that affects crime levels.  

Answer 5

ANYTHING would be better than the gang of deadbeat clowns that we have to put with now!

Answer 6

Yes, the police farce that  "polices" my area is known for it's inefficiency and corruption !

Answer 7

NO

Answer 8

saw it on Glen Beck last night.  Government that is less & less centralized is the most successful.  

Let the communities police themselves instead of having one group that decides for all even though they are clearly biased to their own community.

Answer 9

There are different legal systems in Scotland, England/Wales, and N.Ireland, so I don't see how this would work.

Answer 10

No. Devon & Cornwall have a central control room and they haven't a clue where most villages are and you have to spend ages explaining to them. Imagine if it was a national force they wouldn't find anywhere.

Answer 11

Gordan Brown wouldn't have it any other way.  

Answer 12

no the problem is to mash Deck work  

Answer 13

yes

Answer 14

smaller government is more efficient

Answer 15

Yes!

Answer 16

It was considered and they started to implement it a year or so ago at great cost to the tax payer.  The idea came from the government and a lot of the actual forces who were due to be merged didn't like the idea.  They scrapped the idea in the end but no one really knows why.  It may happen one day but I personally think it will be a long way off.

Answer 17

yeah, lets just let the army be the police, they've got the best guns, right?

no, no seriously, no. we need to dessicate the police force and have community-chiefs. more paperwork but far more effective