The analysis used information from the Home Office Police Research Group and interviews with police officers from the Leicestershire Constabulary, which is likely to be combined with two neighboring police agencies. It also gathered information by means of a 1995 survey of 43 chief constables in England and Wales. Twenty-six responded to written inquiries, and 18 made additional comments. A significant finding was that most of those who did not reply or replied without any additional comments were from police agencies that are unlikely to experience amalgamations. However, these amalgamations are unlikely to result in a national police service for England and Wales. Instead, they will represent another step toward the centralization of policing. The parliamentary debate about amalgamations has been set aside for the last few years, but is likely to resume after the current police reforms are completed. Tables and 51 references