GUEST COLUMN
NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING
THE WHITE PAPER PERSPECTIVE
Sweeping reforms outlined in the Government’s white paper promise a national policing model built on intelligence and efficiency.
However, neighbourhood policing remains central to preserving trust, legitimacy and local connection, observes guest columnist Steve Dodd, former South Wales Police detective constable
The Government’s From Local to National (L2N) white paper signals the most ambitious transformation of policing in England and Wales since the Police Act 1964. But what are we to make of the details contained within it? Beyond the headline-grabbing proposals, what might the new strategy actually mean for national policing delivered at a local level? The white paper, released in early 2026, proposes the creation of a National Police Service (NPS), merging county forces into larger regional structures akin to today’s Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs). At the heart of this shift lies neighbourhood policing – the frontline connection between officers and the communities they serve. As policing moves towards a more centralised model, the challenge is clear: how can the principles of local engagement be preserved while addressing national and cross-border threats? The white paper envisions a safer, more secure future, built on enhanced intelligence flows, community engagement and streamlined operational structures. It emphasises that neighbourhood policing will remain the cornerstone of crime prevention,
28 | POLICE | APRIL | 2026
even as the NPS assumes wider responsibilities, from serious organised crime to counter-terrorism.
BUILDING A NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE
The proposed model represents a significant break from the 43-force structure introduced in 1964. Regionalised, merged-county forces would form the operational backbone
“The strategy is clear: embed
local intelligence to inform national policing, turning data into effective prevention.”
of the NPS. Local Policing Areas (LPAs) within these larger “superforces” would continue to deliver neighbourhood policing, ensuring communities still see the familiar “bobby on the beat”. The proposals have historical
resonance. Lord Scarman’s 1981 inquiry into the Brixton Riots emphasised policing by consent and community support. Neighbourhood policing, rooted in the principles of Sir Robert Peel, draws on the same philosophy: visible, approachable officers who build trust
and gather vital local intelligence. Yet in practice, local policing has faced decades of pressure. By 2016, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate warned that neighbourhood policing had been eroded, and between 2010 and 2020 around 1,000 police stations and counters closed. Under L2N, the Government says it
wants to reverse this decline. A £363.3 million Neighbourhood Policing Grant for 2026/27 will fund 10,000 additional officers, building on 3,000 existing neighbourhood roles. The ambition is to deliver safer streets, halve knife crime, and tackle violence against women and girls – all while integrating policing into a single, intelligence-driven national system.
Operational capacity will expand beyond local crime. The NPS will absorb responsibilities for homicide, sexual offences, serious and organised crime, counter-terrorism and national public order duties. According to the white paper, regional crime hubs will coordinate these efforts, combining intelligence from community operations and specialist units. The strategy is clear: embed local intelligence to inform national policing, turning data into effective prevention.
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