Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley says football clubs should chip in for the £70 million it costs to police matches across the UK each year.

Speaking to the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Rowley questioned why local communities are footing the bill for events like Premier League games. “Why isn’t the organiser paying for that, rather than local communities losing resources to police football matches?” he asked. He suggested there should be a "polluter pays" model, where those who need the policing contribute to the cost.

His comments come as part of a broader call for major reforms in the police system. Rowley wants to cut the current 43 police forces in England and Wales down to around 12 to 15 larger ones. He believes this would improve efficiency, reduce duplication, and help forces better cope with tight budgets and growing demands.

Last month’s Spending Review included a 2.3% increase in police funding, but many in law enforcement have said it's not enough. Rowley stressed the need to get the most out of limited resources, pointing to inefficiencies in the current system. He described the complex collaborations between small forces as an “invisible spaghetti” of costs and wasted effort.

Rowley also reiterated that the structure of UK policing – created in the 1960s – is no longer fit for purpose and has been holding back progress for at least 20 years. Writing in The Sunday Times, he argued that larger forces could make better use of modern tech and streamline services.

Asked whether such reforms are realistic, given that similar proposals under Labour in 2006 were dropped due to backlash, Rowley said the changes are “essential.” He noted that police funding and public safety spending have dropped significantly over the last decade, and with little sign of a major reversal, forces need to adapt.

When pushed on whether the Met might stop investigating some crimes due to limited resources, Rowley didn’t give a direct list but emphasized the need to stay focused: “We are determined to improve the daily experience of Londoners. We can only do that if we focus ruthlessly on proper police work.” Photo by Katie Chan, Wikimedia commons.