§ John McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for regional police forces in England and Wales. [147662]
§ Ms BlearsA major consultation exercise on the future direction of police reform was launched on 4 November with the publication of "Policing: Building Safer Communities Together". Among other things this paper opens the debate on whether the current 43 force structure in England and Wales is the right one for today's and tomorrow's policing needs. A copy of the paper is in the Library.
We are clear that any structural change will need to deliver improvements in police performance and delivery of service.