UK’s Push for a ‘British FBI’ Reveals Perils of Centralizing Power Over Policing

The British government’s announcement to unify England and Wales’ fragmented police services into a single national force—the so-called “British FBI”—raises serious questions about the balance between efficiency and liberty. While presented as a modern solution to complex crimes like terrorism, fraud, and organized crime, this centralization effort reflects a troubling trend: concentrating power in distant bureaucracies at the expense of local accountability and community trust. Does Centralization Undermine Local Control and Liberty? Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood claims this new National Police Service will free up local forces burdened by complex investigations they supposedly lack skill or resources to handle. But...