UK plans to merge 43 police forces into 10, centralizing procurement to save £10 million annually.

The UK government’s plan to centralize police equipment and vehicle procurement through a new National Police Service has been welcomed by Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Dave Allen, who said it could save £10 million annually by standardizing purchases. The Home Office’s White Paper proposes merging 43 forces into as few as 10, with mandatory participation in national buying led by Blue Light Commercial. Allen supported centralizing procurement and IT, noting past savings potential of £89 million if earlier agreements had been adopted, though he remains cautious about force consolidations. The government says reducing decision-makers from 86 to as few as 10 will improve coordination and efficiency.