Policing Reforms on the Horizon in 2026

A Technological Revolution

UK policing has radically changed over the past year, with the introduction of new technology to combat emerging and changing threats. Technologies such as real-time facial recognition are right now helping police to identify criminals and people of interest during routine patrols  as well as safeguarding vulnerable members of society . 
In addition, at the UK’s borders, law enforcement has begun to trial AI-enabled solutions to identify suspicious items when screening freight, supporting the fight against the illicit drugs trade and speeding up the processing of goods clearing our borders. In tackling illegal migration, uncrewed systems and a growing array of sensors - including ground-based radar and electro-optical systems - are already in use to identify and track illegal small boats off our shores.

Consolidation on the Horizon

Ultimately these systems and technologies have revolutionised the way UK police forces fight crime in 2025. But as we look towards 2026, a far greater change looms on the horizon, with reforms poised to fundamentally reshape the structure of our national police force. Leading this change, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce in the new year the  merger of the 43 existing national police forces into 12 ‘mega forces.’  
Heligan Strategic Insights has previously analysed and anticipated the Home Office’s proposals to reform UK policing , and new evidence emerging this week further reinforces the momentum behind these changes. Such a change would be a generational shake-up of policing but would crucially allow forces to leverage economies of scale, better standardise procurement across the force, pool resources, enhance the adoption of new technologies, and reduce expensive duplicated support functions. 
These cost and efficiency savings are the key drivers behind the proposal, which comes in the context of funding squeezes announced in the Government’s 2025 Spending Review released in June. The policy document cuts funding to the Home Office and disappointingly raises police funding by only 2.3% above inflation year on year, a move that we  expect will only exacerbate the UK’s chronically under-resourced police forces, despite ongoing demands to meet operational responsibilities. 
The Metropolitan Police is already progressing with plans to halve the number of staffed front desks and its  chief, Sir Mark Rowley - an early proponent of the force’s consolidation - has also previously indicated that “stark choices”  would need to be made as to which crimes to investigate as a consequence of these cuts.

Challenges to Reform

However, where this new model will fall down is in the ability of larger, more regional police forces to effectively engage with local communities and give them reassurances that their safety remains a priority. Therefore, it is essential that the proposal continues to prioritise the recruitment of neighbourhood police officers, as they serve as the vital connection between police forces and the communities they protect.
Heligan is also tracking ongoing challenges in digital forensics and warns that the proposed merger may further intensify existing problems within the system. The current digital forensic backlog will only be made worse by the inevitable disruption caused by such a substantial restructuring effort and the centralisation of such a capability risks the loss of local relationships and faster decision-making. Hence, it is vital that digital forensics be treated as a critical capability, rather than a back-office function when decisions are made to rationalise costs across the national police force.
A final challenge identified by Heligan concerns whether the Home Office can implement these ambitious reforms within the current parliamentary term. Given the scale and complexity of the proposed changes, there is a significant risk that they may not be fully planned and delivered before the end of this parliament, potentially jeopardising the reforms’ overall viability.

Final Thoughts

Technological change has profoundly impacted UK policing for the better, but fundamental change to how the force is structured will be required to allow the police to carry out the critical work that it does to safeguard the UK at home. This will, however, not be without its challenges and the government will need to carefully consider all the hurdles outlined in this document. Addressing these critical sticking points will ensure any proposed reforms are robust, effective, and have the longevity to keep up with the changing threat landscape we are faced with.