Police Structure in England and Wales

Policing in England and Wales is organised on a decentralised, territorial basis. There are 43 territorial police forces, each responsible for policing a defined geographic area. The forces range in size from the Metropolitan Police Service, which employs approximately 47,000 officers and serves a population of nearly nine million in London, to small county forces with a few hundred officers. Each force is headed by a chief constable (or, in London, the Commissioner), who holds office constable and is responsible in law for the direction and control of the force.

Democratic accountability for policing outside London is provided by Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), directly elected representatives who set the strategic direction and budget for the force, appoint and dismiss the chief constable, and hold the chief constable to account. In London, the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) performs a similar function in relation to the Metropolitan Police, with the Mayor of London acting as Police and Crime Commissioner. City of London Police, which covers the Square Mile, has its own governance arrangements through the Common Council of the City of London.

National and specialist policing functions are provided by a number of agencies and units. The National Crime Agency (NCA) leads the national response to serious and organised crime, including modern slavery, cybercrime, child sexual abuse, and border crime. It has its own powers of arrest and works alongside but distinct from the territorial forces. The Counter Terrorism Policing network coordinates the counter-terrorism response across forces, led by the Metropolitan Police's Specialist Operations directorate. His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) independently inspects forces against national standards and publishes reports.

Officers in England and Wales hold the office of constable, which traces its origins to the common law and existed long before any statutory framework. The office is individual: each officer is personally accountable for their actions at law. The chief constable is vicariously liable for torts committed by officers in the course of their duties. All officers swear an attestation on joining the service, committing themselves to uphold fundamental rights and liberties. The College of Policing sets professional standards, training requirements, and authorised professional practice for the whole service.