The police service in England and Wales has come under greater scrutiny in recent years in order to ensure the effective use of resources and to measure performance against agreed-upon objectives. In addition, the police service has recognized the need to maintain public trust, confidence, and support. In response to reform initiatives, many police forces have started to "flatten" their organizational structure, devolving financial control and decision-making to the lowest competent level and introducing locally based command units as the level of operational command. This has had the effect of re-emphasizing the local nature of policing and accountability to the local population. A brief history of the structure of the police service in England and Wales is provided. The impact of the Police and Magistrates Court Act of 1994 on the police service is examined in terms of rank structure, service conditions, force amalgamations, police authorities, and funding arrangements. The impact of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act of 1994 on the police service is considered with respect to the right of silence, the taking of body samples, stop and search, bail, witness intimidation, public order matters, and police jurisdiction. 15 references