The home secretary’s ambitions for the biggest reforms to policing since the 1960s are being threatened by a lack of money, with plans being considered for the creation of Britain’s FBI and slashing the number of forces.

Shabana Mahmood believes a radical reshaping of policing in England and Wales is needed, with the number of forces covering local areas being reduced from 43 to as low as the “mid teens” over time.

She has also told police chiefs, multiple sources said, that a planned new national operations centre for policing needs to contain the ability to boost the fight against the most serious crimes.

Previous plans under her predecessor, Yvette Cooper, were heading towards streamlining back office functions such as buying IT systems, and equipment, in the hope of saving money,

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