Met chief reveals eight police forces carried out no 'critical' undercover work needed to tackle paedophiles and drug dealers in the past 12 months

Eight police forces across England and Wales did not carry out a single undercover investigation last year, the Met Commissioner has revealed. Sir Mark Rowley said he was concerned some constabularies would 'almost forget' how to use covert tactics, crucial for busting paedophile rings and drugs gangs. Sir Mark, Britain's most senior police officer, would not disclose which eight of the 43 forces in England and Wales had failed to carry out any basic undercover work.

But he said it raises 'a serious question about whether these tactics are available wherever they are needed'. The Commissioner and other police chiefs believe major reform is required, creating one National Police Service which will cover the most serious and complex crime . Up to ten regional constabularies will be large enough to sustain specialist functions such as murder probes and serious and organised crime work, and they will be supported by hundreds of local policing commands.

Describing the lack of undercover policing, thought to affect smaller and regional forces, Sir Mark told the Mail: 'All 43 small forces can't do all the specialist things - sometimes those local forces almost forget how to use the tactics and don't do it, and then you're hiding the problems you're facing. 'You need these proactive skills to poke around and look for issues. Sir Mark Rowley, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said eight constabularies carried out no undercover operations last year 'Today, you need undercover officers working online to catch paedophiles, you need them on the streets dealing with drug dealers. 'It's a critical part of policing, just like the officer walking down the street.'

Police forces have routinely used undercover policing to infiltrate major organised crime groups and gather evidence on grooming gangs. But the Met has also faced criticism for its historic use of covert officers to spy on activists and left-wing groups. A public inquiry into the matter is ongoing. Setting out plans for reform in Manchester last week, Sir Mark said modern policing had failed to keep pace with technological advances. He said successive governments had allowed investment in policing to fall 'behind what the public needs', but admitted there was unlikely to be any major cash from the Treasury for the reforms – reckoned to cost around £2billion.

He described continued disinvestment in policing as 'dangerous' and added: 'Reform is essential, but it cannot substitute for investment.' He said: 'We cannot ask local officers to confront international criminal networks without the strength of a wider service behind them. 'This is not a choice between neighbourhood policing and specialist capability. 'Strong local policing needs both. Reform must deliver both.' Earlier this year, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a blueprint for reform, including a National Police Service which she said would save £350million to be put into frontline policing.