Announcement of New National Police Service Would be “British FBI”

What could a new British-style “FBI” look like – and what would it’s powers be?

The government has announced plans to create a new National Police Service (NPS), described by the Home Secretary as a “British FBI”.

The proposal would represent one of the most significant restructures of policing in England and Wales for decades.

According to Shabana Mahmood, the aim is not cost-cutting, but redesigning a policing system she describes as “broken” – one that struggles to deal with both everyday crime and increasingly complex national and international threats.

What Is the National Police Service?

The proposed NPS would take responsibility for serious and specialist investigations, including counter-terrorism, organised crime and large-scale fraud.

In doing so, it would absorb the work of existing bodies such as the National Crime Agency and regional organised crime units.

Local forces would no longer be expected to carry the burden of major national investigations, with ministers arguing this would free officers up to focus on high-visibility neighbourhood policing and so-called “everyday crime” such as shoplifting, phone theft and anti-social behaviour.

The new body would also centrally procure advanced policing technology – including facial recognition – and set national standards for intelligence, training and operational practice.

Structural Reform on a National Scale

The creation of the NPS sits alongside wider reform proposals, including a significant reduction in the number of police forces across England and Wales, moving from 43 forces to around 12 larger regional bodies.

Every police officer would be required to hold a formal licence to practise, and ministers would be granted expanded powers to intervene where police leadership is deemed to be failing.

Oversight of the NPS would rest with a new national police commissioner, who would become the most senior policing figure in the country.

Potential Benefits – and Legal Concerns

From a public safety perspective, supporters argue the changes reflect the reality that modern crime no longer respects force boundaries.

Serious fraud, cybercrime and organised criminal networks often operate nationally and internationally, making a centralised response more effective.

However, from a criminal defence perspective, the proposals raise important questions.

Greater centralisation of intelligence, data and technology inevitably brings concerns around accountability, transparency and safeguards.

• Expanded use of facial recognition and national databases increases the risk of wrongful identification.
• Centralised intelligence-sharing may make it harder to challenge the origins and handling of evidence.
• A powerful national body could blur the lines between local policing and national security operations.

Defence solicitors will be watching closely to see how oversight is structured, particularly where intrusive surveillance powers are concerned.

Everyday Crime vs Civil Liberties

The government has framed the reforms as a response to what it calls an “epidemic of everyday crime”, with ministers pointing to low charge rates for offences such as shop theft and anti-social behaviour.

While freeing up local officers may improve visibility and response times, there is a risk that increased enforcement could lead to higher arrest rates for low-level offences, disproportionately affecting young people and marginalised communities.

For those accused of offences, the stakes may rise if new technology and intelligence-led policing becomes more widely deployed without robust checks and balances.

Mixed Reaction from Policing Bodies

Senior figures within policing have offered cautious support, acknowledging that the current system struggles to keep pace with modern crime. Others have warned that large-scale restructuring is costly, disruptive and risks distancing policing from the communities it serves.

Concerns have also been raised that top-down reform could undermine local accountability, particularly with plans to scrap police and crime commissioners and expand ministerial powers.

What Happens Next?

The Home Secretary is expected to unveil further detail on the reforms shortly. If implemented, the creation of a National Police Service would fundamentally change how crime is investigated and prosecuted in England and Wales.

For defendants and those under investigation, the shift towards national policing structures and advanced technology makes early legal advice more important than ever.

As policing evolves, so too will the legal challenges around evidence, surveillance and fair process.

The promise may be fewer criminals “running amok”, but the balance between effective enforcement and individual rights will be the real test of any “British FBI”.

How We Can Help.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this article or any other aspects of the impllications of a new National Police Service – call us now on 0161 477 1121 or email us.