The Home Office has announced that all police officers in England and Wales will be required to obtain and maintain a work licence to continue serving. Officers must demonstrate up-to-date skills, particularly in areas such as tackling violence against women and girls, under a phased scheme similar to those for other professions. The new programme aims to standardise training and ensure officers remain equipped to address evolving crime challenges.

In addition, ministers will be granted expanded powers to dismiss chief constables and intervene in underperforming police forces. These reforms are part of a broader overhaul promised by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who intends to reduce the number of police forces and focus efforts on serious and organised crime. The changes have been welcomed by some oversight bodies, while others caution that structural changes alone may not guarantee improved policing without further investment.