Police reform plans are poor fit for Burnham’s devolution agenda

The proposed police reform plan to merge multiple constabularies into larger, unified forces has sparked significant controversy among police chiefs and England's mayors. This initiative, stemming from the Starmer era, clashes with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham's devolution agenda, which seeks more local control over policing. The disagreement highlights broader tensions between central government reforms and local governance priorities, underscoring the complexity of balancing national strategy with regional autonomy. For Burnham and other mayors, this reform threatens the autonomy they’ve fought to achieve.