Sky News Daily Can coppers cope with 'modern crime'?
Jan 26, 2026
Martin Brunt, Sky News crime correspondent with decades covering policing and high-profile investigations. He breaks down proposed mergers into mega-forces and a new National Police Service. They discuss using data and AI to predict crime. He also explores local neighbourhood teams, training and licensing for officers, and lessons from Police Scotland.
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Current Structure Versus National Service
- England and Wales currently have 43 largely county-based police forces with separate chief constables and procurement systems.
- The proposal merges forces into larger 'mega constabularies' and expands the National Crime Agency into a National Police Service covering the whole country.
Bring Back Visible Local Teams
- Rebuild local policing teams so officers are visible and connected to communities again.
- Use neighbourhood-style local policing to encourage public reporting and restore confidence.
Crime Goes Digital And Cross-Border
- Crime now crosses borders and often leaves digital traces, so county-based policing can feel outdated.
- The white paper emphasises cyber capability and tackling fraud that may originate outside the UK.