The article deals with two of the main issues against further amalgamations of police forces in England and Wales. The first issue relates to the assumed benefits which larger police forces are expected to bring in terms of efficiency and effectiveness, and the second issues deals with the problem of the government of police which regionalized forces can be expected to generate. Many proponents of police regionalization underplay the fact that policing is mainly a local service because crime remains overwhelmingly local in nature and occurrence in spite of the increase in international crime. Also the idea is presented that the police are dependent on the public in clearing up crime. Examples from previous amalgamations are discussed, and the tripartite structure of government established between chief constable, police authority, and the Home Office by the 1964 Police Act is discussed from both sides. The future impact of the 1992 European economic integration concludes the article. 52 notes