Kington councillors to respond individually to police force merger consultation

Kington councillors to respond individually to a West Mercia police force merger consultation

The West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner has launched a public consultation on the proposal to merge police forces.

John Campion said he wanted to seek the views of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire residents regarding Government proposals to merge police forces across England and Wales.

In an email to Kington Town Council he said the government announced that an independent review into these proposals would be carried out, which could see the existing structure of 43 police forces reduce to 12.

This would be the biggest change to policing in more than six decades.

Mr Campion said: “These proposals weren’t in Labour’s manifesto in the General Election, therefore I am committed to representing the public voice. Through this three month consultation I hope to hear from as many West Mercia residents as possible – regardless of whether people are for or against the proposals.”

Kington Town Council agreed that if its members wished to respond to the consultation they should do so individually and the council would not respond as a body.

The details of the consultation will be sent to all councillors

Details of the consultation can be found at https://www.westmercia-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/consultations-and-surveys/public-consultation---police-force-mergers

The survey closes on June 15 2026.