---

Police Restructuring

This is an interesting discussion. The hon. Gentleman is quite right to say that some people think that a form of federation would be a more effective way of dealing with aspects of the situation than strategic forces. I take the view—I think that I am right in saying that Her Majesty’s inspectorate of constabulary takes the same view—that that is not the right approach, because if one considers the resources that are required to deal with threats of serious and organised crime, intelligence matters, drug dealing and people trafficking, one sees that a strategic capacity is needed, not simply a mutual aid-based capacity. That is the right solution.