Thames Valley Police chief says he is cautiously optimistic about reforms

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood published a white paper proposing major changes to policing in England and Wales, and Thames Valley Chief Constable Jason Hogg said he is cautiously optimistic and offered his force as a template.

The Home Secretary published a 106-page white paper setting out wide-ranging proposals to change policing in England and Wales, including a plan to reduce the number of local forces. Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg told the BBC he is cautiously optimistic and said his force could provide a template for how larger forces might work. He also said reforms must address bureaucracy so officers can spend more time on operational duties. Key points: - The government white paper proposes major changes to force structures and the creation of a National Police Service to tackle complex cross-border crime. - The paper includes a plan to cut the number of local forces by about two-thirds, as announced to Parliament by the Home Secretary. - Jason Hogg said Thames Valley Police already operates at scale, employs more than 9,000 people, and would work with the Home Secretary to support the plans. - Hogg cautioned that effective reform needs to address bureaucracy as well as organisational structure. Summary: The proposals would represent a substantial restructuring of policing in England and Wales, and Thames Valley’s chief constable has expressed cautious optimism while offering the force as an example. Undetermined at this time.