The government is set to appoint a national public order commander to coordinate the police response to large-scale protests and riots, as part of plans to create a new National Police Service to tackle the most serious and complex crime.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce the reforms on Monday, including the launch of the National Police Service, described as Britain’s equivalent of the FBI. The new structure is intended to ease pressure on local forces and improve coordination during major national incidents.
Under the plans, a senior national commander will be responsible for overseeing intelligence sharing and directing police resources when widespread disorder breaks out. The role follows criticism of how quickly and effectively police responded to riots across the UK in the summer of 2024 after the Southport attack, in which three young girls were killed.
Mahmood said officers act courageously during violent disorder but need stronger national backing. She said the new commander would help crack down on disruption and keep communities safe.
According to officials, the commander will have the authority to instruct forces to provide officers and equipment to areas at risk of serious unrest, ensuring a coordinated national response. Local public order policing will remain the responsibility of chief constables, but the national commander would take control when disorder spreads across multiple regions.
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The Home Office says protests and unrest now emerge more quickly and spread faster across the country, making a national command structure necessary. Previous reviews found that police intelligence failed to anticipate the scale of the 2024 riots and that existing systems were not designed for a coordinated national response.
Police leaders have cautiously welcomed the move. Representatives have warned there is no surplus of officers available and stressed that the new commander must operate independently of political influence. Analysts and policing experts say a clear national line of command could help police stay ahead of fast-moving and increasingly volatile protests, while still protecting the right to peaceful demonstration.
The Home Office said the new role would allow police to act more decisively against violent disorder while continuing to safeguard lawful protest.
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