Date confirmed for Tom Winsor committee appearance

Tom Winsor will be quizzed before the Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) for a pre-appointment hearing on June 26, it has been confirmed.

Mr Winsor, the Home Secretary’s preferred candidate for the post of HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary, will appear before the committee after the original hearing date was postponed due to the lack of time the HASC was given to prepare.

The committee has written to Theresa May asking for a list of the other shortlisted candidates and for a statement of the reasons why Mr Winsor was the preferred candidate.

It is also seeking views from the Police Federation of England and Wales, the Police Superintendants’ Association, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Police Authorities

Keith Vaz, chair of the HASC, said: “As the new landscape of policing develops, and forces throughout the country are facing the challenge of significant reduction in resources, the role of the inspectorate is becoming more important than ever. It is vital that we have the best person for the job. We look forward to hearing from Mr Winsor and other stakeholders whose views are important to the Committee.”

The Home Office announcement of Mr Winsor as its preferred candidate was met with shock and disbelief among large parts of the police service.

The former rail regulator published his independent report into police pay and conditions which was hugely frowned upon as a result of recommendations which include cutting the starting salary of officers, increasing the police pension age and introducing direct entry into the service higher than the rank of constable.

For full report and detailed feature on the Police Federation’s response see this week’s edition – PP 308.