With the release of the Green Paper on Policing, issued by the Home Office in 2003 the United Kingdom embarked on significant reform and reorganization of policing in both England and Wales. Within the Green Paper, it is the proposals pertaining to new local accountability structures which have immediate interest. These proposals were likely to impact future relationships with local government and on the local governance of the police. This paper reviews the implications of the Green Paper on Policing 2003 and explores the issue of police amalgamations and the impact of this on police authorities. The paper entails an examination of the role of Basic Command Unit (BCU) commanders and their partnership relationship with Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRP's) and then, considers the lack of accountability of both CDRP's and BCU commanders. A recommendation is presented on the creation of local community safety authorities and the future inclusion of local police commanders within the local authority Chief Executive Group which would enhance the efficiency and partnership arrangements, thereby offering greater clarity regarding local political accountability. The future appears to lie with local arrangements which rest on closer liaison and integration with local authority services. References