Thames Valley residents reject police merger plans in survey, Wales 2026

Key Points

• In a poll carried out by Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber, 75% of respondents are against the idea of merging Thames Valley Police to a larger region.
• Over 2,300 Thames Valley residents took part in the consultation that was initiated in June 2026 after the government’s Police Reform White Paper.
• 18% of respondents supported force mergers while only 7% indicated that they were unsure about them.
• Top issues raised by respondents include lack of visibility of policing, lack of local knowledge, poor responsiveness to local needs, poor deployment of police resources and reduced engagement and trust from the local population.
• According to Matthew Barber, the findings give a “very clear message” that local populations do not want their police forces dissolved and merged to larger regions.
• Barber noted that he will relay the findings of the survey to the government and continue pushing for local, community-rooted policing.
• About 34% of respondents indicated that they did not know of the government’s plans to merge police forces prior to taking part in the survey.

Wales (Wales Times) September 10, 2026 – Three-quarters of residents who responded to a survey by Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Matthew Barber have said they oppose Government plans to merge Thames Valley Police into a larger, regional organisation. The consultation, which drew more than 2,300 participants from across the Thames Valley area including Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire was launched in June 2026 after the publication of the Government’s Police Reform White Paper, titled “From Local to National”.

What do Thames Valley residents think about police merger plans?

As reported by the Thames Valley PCC’s news office, Matthew Barber said: “The results of this survey send a very clear message. The vast majority of those who took part do not want to see local police forces abolished and merged into larger regional organisations.” He added that residents understand effective policing depends on local knowledge, local accountability and strong connections between officers and the communities they serve.

Survey findings on force merger proposals

The survey asked respondents whether they supported the Government’s plans to merge police forces. According to the PCC’s published results, 75% said they opposed force mergers, 18% said they supported force mergers, and 7% said they were unsure. When asked about the risks of creating larger regional police forces, respondents most frequently cited concerns about less visibility of policing, lack of local knowledge, poorer response to local priorities, worse allocation of police resources, and reduction in community engagement and trust.

A significant proportion of respondents—34%—also said they were unaware of the Government’s plans to merge police forces before taking part in the survey.

Matthew Barber’s response to survey results

Matthew Barber has previously raised concerns that the proposals could weaken local policing, reduce accountability and ultimately make communities less safe. In a statement published on the Thames Valley PCC website, he said: “Residents understand that effective policing depends on local knowledge, local accountability and strong connections between officers and the communities they serve. They are concerned that these proposals would take policing further away from the public and weaken those relationships.”

He continued:

“I have consistently argued that the real issue facing policing is not the size of police forces, but the way they are funded. Reorganising force boundaries would create significant disruption and cost millions of pounds, with no guarantee of improving services for residents.”

Barber added:

“What people have told us through this survey mirrors the concerns I set out in my response to the Government’s White Paper. There is a real risk that these changes could reduce local accountability, make policing less responsive and divert resources away from the frontline at a time when we should be focused on preventing crime and keeping communities safe.”

He concluded:

“I want to thank residents who took the time to share their views. The Government has not asked the public what they think about these proposals, so it is important that the voices of Thames Valley residents are heard. I will be sharing these results with Government and will continue to make the case for policing that is rooted in local communities, accountable to local people and focused on delivering the best possible service to the public.”

How was the Thames Valley Police merger survey conducted?

The consultation was launched to ensure that residents had the opportunity to have their say on reforms that could significantly change the future of policing across England and Wales. More than 2,300 people across the Thames Valley took part in the survey, which forms part of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s wider engagement activity. Residents are encouraged to share their views on local policing and crime by completing an ongoing local crime survey via the PCC website.

What does the Government’s Police Reform White Paper propose?

The Government’s White Paper, titled “From Local to National”, was published in January 2026 and sets out what ministers describe as the most radical programme of police reform in 200 years. The plan includes reducing the number of police forces from the current 43, abolishing Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) by 2028, and creating a new National Police Service by merging the National Crime Agency, Counter Terrorism Policing, the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

The White Paper also commits £115 million over three years to a new National Centre for AI in Policing (“Police.AI”), purchases 40 new Live Facial Recognition vans, and funds a £200 million neighbourhood policing boost in 2025–26.

Background of the police merger development

The push to merge police forces emerged from the Government’s “From Local to National” White Paper, which argues that consolidating forces will save money, strengthen specialist crime-fighting capabilities and better equip police to tackle serious and organised crime and threats to national security. The reforms would see local forces focus on local crime while a new national force handles cross-border and national-level threats.

However, Police and Crime Commissioners across England and Wales have conducted similar surveys, with many showing overwhelming opposition to the Government’s plans. For example, Surrey PCC Lisa Townsend reported that 80% of respondents opposed merging Surrey Police, while Essex’s survey found nearly 70% opposed regional forces. Regional mayors, including Greater Manchester’s Andy Burnham, have also expressed concern about the drive to create bigger regional forces, with reports suggesting the review into force boundaries has been delayed into autumn 2026 due to clashes with devolution plans.

Prediction: How could the merger plans affect Thames Valley residents?

If the Government proceeds with merging Thames Valley Police into a larger regional organisation despite local opposition, residents could face several potential impacts. Based on the concerns raised in the survey, there is a risk that policing could become less visible in local communities, with officers potentially covering wider areas and having less familiarity with neighbourhood-specific issues. This could lead to slower response times for non-emergency calls and a perceived reduction in community engagement, as officers may have less capacity to build long-term relationships with residents and local groups.

For Thames Valley residents who prioritise local accountability, the abolition of the PCC role and transfer of governance to mayors or policing boards could mean decision-making moves further away from the communities affected. This shift might make it harder for residents to influence policing priorities or hold local commanders to account.

On the other hand, proponents of the reforms argue that a larger regional force could improve coordination on serious and organised crime, share specialist resources more efficiently, and standardise service levels across a wider area. Whether these benefits materialise—and whether they outweigh the risks identified by residents—will depend on how any merger is implemented, funded and governed.