About us
Read on to find out about the various departments that make up the police.
The UK police force is a modern, responsive institution responsible for building safer and more secure communities for us all.
There are 43 police forces in England and Wales employing over 140,000 police officers, 70,000 police staff and 8,500 police community support officers. These are supported by 13,000 volunteer police officers, known as Special Constables. For exact figures, see Police Service Strength: England and Wales, 30 September 2006 (new window).
Within the Home Office, a number of police units have been established to support the police and pursue a variety of crime reduction initiatives. In this section you'll find out more about the work these units do in helping the police make society safer.
Please note that the Scottish Executive is responsible for policing in Scotland.
Explore this section ...
Policing Policy and Operations
This directorate provides policy support, and sponsors organisations such as the Criminal Records Bureau, the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the National Policing Improvement Agency, helping the police service tackle major national operational challenges.
-
This directorate aims to maintain standards of excellence in policing and in initiatives that strive to ensure community safety.
-
This directorate is responsible for shaping future police reform, with key partners in the Association of Chief Police Officers, and the Association of Police Authorities, ensuring that the police make effective use of the resources available to them.
