Crime
Police force mergers could ‘separate communities from policing’, watchdog warns
POLICING OVERHAUL COULD CUT 43 FORCES TO FEWER REGIONAL UNITS
MAJOR plans to reorganise policing in England and Wales could be “complex to deliver”, expensive and risk weakening the link between officers and the communities they serve, a national policing body has warned.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to set out the biggest overhaul of policing in decades on Monday, with ministers arguing the current set-up of forty-three separate forces is wasteful and leaves some areas without the capacity to respond to serious incidents.
Under the proposals, the overall number of forces would be reduced, with larger regional forces expected to take the lead on serious and organised crime and complex investigations such as homicide.
At neighbourhood level, each town, city and borough would be organised into a “local policing area”, with officers focused on crimes such as shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.
The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) said regional mergers would be time-consuming and costly, and warned the disruption could “derail” the wider ambition of reforms.
PCCs Matthew Scott and Clare Moody said: “The public want neighbourhood policing. There is no evidence to suggest the public would welcome bigger forces and in terms of public accountability, it also risks creating a separation between police forces and the local communities they serve.
“It makes responding to local policing and crime needs more difficult and removes the link between local taxpayers and the police they increasingly directly fund through the policing precept.”
They added that any long-term savings from larger force areas “could be outweighed by very significant set-up costs”, and questioned the assumption that bigger forces automatically perform better.
Government sources have argued that the current model leads to duplication, with forces paying separately for headquarters and administrative functions that could be merged to free up funds for frontline policing.
Ministers also believe restructuring would help reduce differences in performance between forces, with smaller organisations sometimes lacking specialist resources when major incidents occur.
A Government source said the aim was to ensure all forces had the tools and capacity needed to tackle serious crime, adding: “Where you live will no longer determine the outcomes you get from your force.”
The reforms are expected to take years to implement, with reports suggesting force mergers would not be completed until the mid-2030s. The number and boundaries of any new forces are expected to be decided by an independent review.
Similar proposals have been attempted before. In March 2006, then home secretary Charles Clarke announced plans to reduce the number of forces to twenty-four, but the idea was dropped within months after opposition from senior officers and a proposed merger between Lancashire and Cumbria collapsed.
Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp said there was “no evidence” that larger forces would cut crime or improve performance, warning that a reorganisation could centralise control and leave smaller communities worse off.
The Police Federation of England and Wales said fewer forces did not guarantee stronger neighbourhood policing, but welcomed the Home Secretary’s willingness to consider difficult decisions.
A spokesperson said: “Policing’s current structure has entrenched a postcode lottery in what the public see but also how officers are led, supported and treated.
“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.”
Ministers have already announced plans to scrap police and crime commissioners in 2028, with responsibilities expected to move to mayors and council leaders, with the Government saying the change would save at least £100 million to help fund neighbourhood policing.
Crime
Pembrokeshire hairdresser avoids prison after pub assault
When a Fishguard mobile hairdresser was branded a chav in her local pub, she took umbrage by throwing a glass of gin at the woman who had spoken the words.
But this week Haverfordwest magistrates heard that when the glass shattered into the victim’s face, the woman sustained lacerations to her neck and chin.
Appearing before the Bench was 43-year-old Donna Thomas of White Lodge, Dyffryn, Goodwick, who pleaded guilty to assaulting Hannah Llewellyn, causing her actual bodily harm.
The court was told that Thomas arrived at The Royal Oak pub in Fishguard, at around 8pm on October 18, accompanied by her husband. Approximately an hour later, Hannah Llewellyn arrived.
“The defendant began speaking to the victim and an argument broke out,” said Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies.
“The defendant hit the victim to her face with a glass which smashed against her face, neck and skin, causing lacerations.”
Photographs of the lacerations were shown to the Bench.
But the probation service stressed that the assault had been prompted by a derogatory remark made to the defendant by Hannah Llewellyn.
“The defendant had had two drinks earlier that evening, she drank two more at the pub prior to the incident, and was tipsy but was aware of what was happening around her,” commented the probation officer.
“She went over to the table where the victim was sitting, her husband introduced her to the victim who he’d known since his school days, and they began discussing land on friendly terms. But the victim then laughed at the defendant’s job, which is a self-employed mobile hairdresser, and called her a chav.
“Without thinking, Donna Thomas went to throw the drink over the victim’s face but she knocked the glass. She didn’t intend to hurt her physically, but just wanted to throw the drink.”
Thomas was sentenced to 18 weeks in custody suspended for 18 months. During this time she must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work. She was ordered to pay £750 compensation to Hannah Llewellyn, a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.
Crime
Farm worker overturns Mercedes when over drink-drive limit
A Pembrokeshire farm worker has lost his licence after overturning his Mercedes when he was over the drink-drive limit.
This week Haverfordwest magistrates were told that at around 3.40pm on January 10, police received reports that a black Mercedes had been involved in a single vehicle road collision on the A487 at Roch.
When officers arrived, they discovered the overturned Mercedes with its driver, Richard James, 45, trapped in the driving seat.
At around 5 pm James was arrested and transported to Withybush hospital where blood samples were carried out. These gave a reading of 112 mcg of alcohol, the legal limit being 80.
James, of Bryn Seion, Solva, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and was represented in court by solicitor Jess Hill who informed magistrates that the defendant had collected items for work on the afternoon in question.
“He’d consumed alcohol the night before and had also taken some prescribed medication,” she said. “He believed he would be safe to drive the following day, but obviously this wasn’t the case.”
Jess Hill added that James is expecting to lose his employment as a farm worker, as the mandatory driving ban will prevent him from driving the vehicles involved with his work.
James was disqualified from driving for 14 months and ordered to pay a £346 fine, a £138 court surcharge and £85 costs.
Crime
Pembrokeshire man charged with making hundreds of indecent images of children
A PEMBROKESHIRE man has appeared before magistrates charged with making hundreds of indecent images of children.
David Lewis, 42, is accused of making 261 of the most serious category A images of a child together with 71 category B images and 51 category C images of a child. The offences are alleged to have been committed between March 19, 2025 and August 6, 2025.
He is further accused of distributing one indecent category A image of a child at an undisclosed location in Llanteg, Narberth, on July 27, 2025.
This week Lewis – formerly of Ashdale Lane, Pembroke but now residing at Hoopers Guest House in Swansea – appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates where he submitted no pleas to all four charges.
Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies told magistrates that a total of 81,000 images and videos are currently being investigated in respect of the defendant, with the result that the police enquiry is not yet complete.
“A lot of these photographs are of babies, with the result that their severity is not suitable for the magistrates court,” Dennis Davies told the Haverfordwest Bench.
As a result of the Crown’s comments, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the matter will now be dealt with by Swansea Crown Court, commencing on May 29. Lewis was released on unconditional bail.
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