The home secretary’s allies will sell these reforms as part of her “modernising agenda”.
A source said: “For decades, people have called for forces to be merged. Mahmood is a politician who is not scared of bold reform and a political fight.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: “Keir Starmer’s forced police reorganisation will undermine efforts to flight crime across England and Wales, inevitably leading to centralised control and reduced policing in towns and villages across the country.”
Some police chiefs have called for a revamp of policing in England and have backed reducing the number of forces.
Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: “Crime is changing, technology is evolving, and we need to be set up in the best possible way to tackle crime in the modern world, relentlessly focused on good quality neighbourhood policing alongside national threats.
“I know the home secretary shares this ambition. We look forward to seeing the government’s white paper and working with them to ensure policing delivers outstanding results and rebuilds confidence with the communities we serve.”
A spokesman for the Policing Federation, which represents officers from the rank of constable to chief inspector, said: “Fewer forces doesn’t guarantee more or better policing for communities.
“Skills, capabilities and equipment need significant investment if the public and officers are going to see reform deliver in the real world.
“Any proposals must be driven by evidence and best practice, not lowest cost, and must strengthen rather than weaken frontline, investigative and specialist capability, neighbourhood policing and public confidence.”
