Public Opposed to Police Mergers

A new Populus poll for Policy Exchange (to accompany the publication of Policy Exchange's own paper on police mergers) shows a high level of public opposition to the merger of police forces into larger strategic forces in the areas affected (police forces in London and some larger forces such as the Thames Valley Police will remain the same). Overall 58% of people opposed the changes with 36% of people supporting them.

Opposition was pretty much even across the country. The press coverage makes much of the strongest opposition being in the South - between 59% and 60% - compared to 56% opposition in the North. Even with a sample size of 4,569 though, these differences aren't really significant.