Joe Willis

North Yorkshire’s council leader warns that merging England and Wales’ 43 police forces into larger regional bodies could leave rural areas disadvantaged in competing for policing resources. He stresses that North Yorkshire’s agricultural crimes, heritage-site offences and environmental issues require a locally informed model supported by established partnerships. While acknowledging potential efficiencies from larger forces, he argues that regionalisation risks weakening community‑focused policing and diluting local priorities as the review of national police force structures continues.