PCC response to Police Reform White Paper

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick responds to Police Reform White Paper. 

“I want to be clear from the outset: I support meaningful police reform. Reform which genuinely improves outcomes for the public and strengthens public confidence, while being underpinned by proper investment in policing is not only welcome, it is essential. Policing has evolved before and will do so again - but it must evolve in the right direction.

“It is precisely because I support effective reform that I cannot support proposals which move policing further away from the communities it serves. Creating bigger forces does not mean a better service – as the evidence already suggests. These proposals would weaken the critical bond between the police and the public they serve, strip away vital local knowledge and dilute accountability. If these proposals go ahead, we will lose democratic and local voices and risk transforming policing from a locally accountable, public-facing service into one directed by the state. That shift should concern everyone.

“As Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner, my Police and Crime Plan is shaped directly by the people of this county and focuses on the priorities they have told me matter most, including anti-social behaviour, illegal drugs, rural crime, and violence against women and girls. Imposing larger regional forces risks replacing this with a remote, one-size-fits-all model of policing that fails to reflect Dorset’s unique geography and communities. I am deeply concerned that Dorset would be consumed within a larger force, with the demands of cities and larger urban centres drawing precious resources away from our rural areas and smaller towns, leaving our communities vulnerable.

“It is because of my belief in strong, locally accountable governance that I categorically reject the assertion that the Police and Crime Commissioner model is a so-called ‘failed experiment’. In Dorset, effective leadership, robust scrutiny, and a clear strategic direction have helped make this county one of the safest places in the country. That success is not accidental. It is the product of successful local relationships, and a police force which understands and cares about the communities it serves.

“This accountability is not a bureaucratic detail - it is fundamental. It ensures transparency, scrutiny and a clear line of communication between the public and their police service. The White Paper still provides insufficient clarity on what the future holds for critical local partnerships and services. These are not abstract governance issues; they are decisions that will have real and lasting consequences for victims of crime and the communities we serve. Victims must be at the heart of any reform agenda, not an afterthought.

“Ultimately, while there are some elements of this White Paper that I support, any reform of policing must strengthen not weaken local accountability, community connection and public trust. Policing by consent – the heart of Sir Robert Peel’s principles - can only be upheld if it remains firmly rooted in local communities. Anything less risks undermining the very foundations upon which policing depends.”