Residents across Worcestershire are being reminded to have their say on Government proposals that could see West Mercia Police merged with West Midlands Police as part of a major reorganisation of policing in England.
As part of the Government’s police reform agenda, proposals have been put forward that could reduce the current structure of 43 police forces in England to just 12 larger regional forces.
The Government argues that policing structures need updating to tackle the changing nature of crime, including serious organised crime, cyber crime, online harm and cross border offending. Ministers say larger forces would provide greater specialist capability, resilience and efficiency.
According to the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion, under the proposals, the force, which serves Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire, could be merged with West Midlands Police, creating a force covering both rural counties and major urban areas including Birmingham. Although this – and proposals about individual forces – are not mentioned in the Government’s White Paper on the topic.
A public consultation on the plans has now been launched by by Mr Campion, who is encouraging residents to share their views before the Government makes a final decision.
Mr Campion said he wanted local people to have the opportunity to comment on proposals which could bring significant changes to the way policing is delivered across the region.
In a statement accompanying the consultation, he said:
“I have launched this consultation as I want to give you the opportunity to have your say on Government proposals to merge police forces into fewer, larger areas.
“I am concerned that these substantial changes to your police service could be done without seeking your views. This is your chance to have your say locally.”
Mr Campion has said feedback gathered through the consultation will be submitted to Government as part of its decision making process.
The Government’s proposals have already been criticised by Worcestershire Liberal Democrats, who argue that larger regional forces risk shifting resources away from rural communities and neighbourhood policing.
Councillor Sharon Gibbons, a former Chief Inspector with West Mercia Police, said:
“Local policing works best when it is rooted in the communities it serves. A force covering both rural Worcestershire and central Birmingham faces fundamentally different demands, and a one size fits all approach risks failing both.”
She also pointed to the former Strategic Alliance between West Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police, which was later dissolved.
“We only need to look at the previous attempt at a Strategic Alliance between the police forces of West Mercia and Warwickshire, which later collapsed, citing how the alliance impacted decisions on the delivery of local policing, eventually costing £10 million to leave the arrangement,” she said.
Councillor Gibbons added that previous public service mergers had often failed to deliver the benefits promised.
“We’ve seen other mergers of public services that rarely benefit residents. The creation of large regional ambulance trusts, including the West Midlands Ambulance Service, was sold on similar promises of coordination and efficiency. Yet the service has faced persistent failures in response times and staff morale has collapsed. Worcestershire residents have experienced this first hand. Policing carries similar risks and these proposals will leave our rural communities even more at risk.”
The consultation asks residents whether they were aware of the proposed changes, what concerns they may have about police force mergers, whether they see any benefits, and whether they support or oppose the creation of larger regional police forces.
The survey closes on Monday 15 June.
Residents can take part online via the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner’s survey here: http://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/91056156/Police-force-mergers-2026
