The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has announced sweeping reforms to policing in England and Wales, including a requirement for all officers to obtain and regularly renew a work licence throughout their careers. This licence will ensure officers stay updated with the latest methods and guidance, with training introduced in phases across all 43 forces. The reforms also grant ministers new powers to dismiss underperforming police chiefs and deploy specialist teams to struggling forces, aiming to improve crime solving rates and response times. Additionally, the government plans to reduce the number of police forces and introduce new public targets for policing, though some in the policing community have expressed concerns about the effectiveness of these measures without further investment in skills and equipment.