Surrey Police faces potential merger into regional mega force

Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend is urging residents to participate in a survey regarding government proposals to merge local police forces into larger regional entities. The proposed reforms aim to replace the current 43-force system in England and Wales with larger regional ‘mega forces’ to reduce bureaucracy and improve efficiency.

Under these plans, Surrey Police could be merged with neighboring forces, potentially including Sussex, Thames Valley, Kent, and Hampshire. Townsend has expressed concern that such a merger could dilute local services and divert essential police resources away from Surrey communities. She noted that while police reform is necessary, a regional mega force may not be the optimal solution.

The government maintains that the reforms are intended to restore public trust in policing by focusing on neighborhood issues and cutting waste. The survey for Surrey residents is scheduled to close at midnight on Monday, 17 August.