PCC Issues his thoughts on proposed police reform - Bigger is not always better

March 2026 

Police and Crime Commissioner, Darryl Preston 

Bigger is not always better … 

As I listened to my Chief Constable presenting his latest performance paper at one of my recent Police Accountability Boards, it struck me – and not for the first time – how local forces continue to deliver effective policing despite the many challenges facing policing on a daily basis.  

Against a sea of changes including the abolition of my role, local government reorganisation and proposed police reform, our officers and staff continue to work hard to protect local communities, apprehend offenders and keep our streets safe.  

I am hugely proud that according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales (year ending September 2025) which surveys residents from both countries, that Cambridgeshire is the highest ranked force in response to ‘police in this area can be trusted’ according to the local people surveyed. The same survey also ranked Cambridgeshire fifth for ‘police deal with local concerns’ and fifth for ‘overall confidence in local police’.  

This is something we should all be proud of and is not something that happens by accident.  

Trust is earned and it is done through continued and effective community engagement. Severing those bonds by creating ‘super’ forces has the potential to undermine community policing and damage trust and confidence – something we have been working hard to build following recent national and high-profile cases involving serving police officers.   

One of my greatest concerns about the proposed merging of forces in the recently published Police Reform White Paper is that bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. Some of the largest forces in the country, including Greater Manchester, West Midlands and the Metropolitan Police, have all at times been placed into special measures.   

And here’s the evidence.  

The Home Office Police Workforce for England and Wales data published in January 2026 positions Cambridgeshire as the 28th largest force out of the current 43 for the year ending September 20251.    

The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW)2 also published in January 2026 by the Office for National Statistics estimates that over the 12 months to the end of September 2025, of those surveyed nationally: 

• Cambridgeshire Constabulary is the highest ranked force in England and Wales for ‘police in this area can be trusted’, with 80% of surveyed residents agreeing.  In comparison, Greater Manchester Police (second largest force outside of London) are ranked 26th (71%), West Yorkshire Police (fourth largest force in England and Wales) are ranked 32nd (70%), the Metropolitan Police (the largest force in the UK) are ranked 34th (70%), and West Midlands Police (third largest force in England and Wales) are ranked 42nd (64%) out of 43 forces. 

• Cambridgeshire is also the fifth highest ranked force in England and Wales for ‘overall confidence in local police’, with 75% of surveyed residents agreeing.  By comparison. the Metropolitan Police are ranked 23rd (68%), Greater Manchester Police, 26th (67%), West Yorkshire Police 30th (65%) and West Midlands Police ranked 42nd (61%) out of 43 forces. 

• Cambridgeshire is the fifth-highest ranked force in England and Wales for ‘police deal with local concerns’, with 53% of surveyed residents agreeing.  The Met are ranked 9th (51%), Greater Manchester Police, 15th (49%), West Yorkshire Police, 33rd (43%) and West Midlands Police, 35th (43%) out of 43 forces. 

When it comes to overall performance of Police Scotland (the second largest force nationally), the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) published in June 2025 (for interviews conducted between July 2023 and April 2024) resulted in fewer than half of all adults (45%) believed the police in their local area were doing an ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ job. And 42% of adults were very or fairly confident in the police’s ability to prevent crime in 2023/243.  

These results speak for themselves. People are more confident when they know their police officers understand what makes them feel safe – what that takes in Peterborough, for example, may not be what people on the Norfolk coast need.  

The government has confirmed that an Independent Review of Police Force Structures has begun led by Lord Hogan-Howe, a review which is said to identify the ‘optimum number of forces and areas they will cover’ with recommendations due to Home Secretary by the summer.  

Policing in this country is grounded in the principle of 'policing by consent'.  For policing to be effective, there must be broad public support. I understand the review is due to conclude within five months without seeking public input, yet altering a structure that has existed for nearly two centuries in such a short period leaves no room for meaningful consultation. 

I hope in the coming months to see full and transparent consultation on the proposed reforms so that I can ensure that they meet the needs and expectations of all our communities across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.  With all this change, one thing I have remained consistent about is the need to tackle crime and keep communities safe. That continues to be my priority. 

ENDS

Note to editors 

[1] For year ending September 2025, the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers are recorded as Cambridgeshire Constabulary (1,707), which compares to the four largest police forces in England and Wales as: Metropolitan Police (32,332), Greater Manchester (8,111), West Midlands (8,027) and West Yorkshire (6,130). 

[2] The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) is published quarterly by the ONS, provides estimates of personal and household crime, anti-social behaviour, and public perceptions, by police force area level. 

[3] Public perceptions of policing - Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2023/24: Main findings - gov.scot  It is important to note that the SCJS and the CSEW surveys should not be directly compared, as the two differ in questionnaire design and approach.