Rick Muir leaving Police Foundation after ten years as director

In a statement, the Police Foundation said: “Rick has had a truly transformational impact on the Police Foundation and during his ten-year tenure he raised the profile of the organisation so that it is now recognised as the foremost policing think-tank, not just in the UK but globally.

“The publication of the Foundation’s Strategic Review of Policing in 2022 was a turning point, laying out a roadmap for police reform, much of which is now being pursued by the Government.

“It is testament to Rick’s leadership in that he was able to galvanise a small team to complete such a huge piece of work. Everyone very much enjoyed working with him.”

The Foundation’s Research Director Andy Higgins will take on the role of interim director until September when a new director is expected to be in post.

Mr Muir said he had “thoroughly enjoyed” his time as the Foundation’s director.

He said: “We are now a critical part of the policing ecosystem, contributing research, insight and ideas with the aim of improving policing for the benefit of the public.

“Our most important single initiative, the Strategic Review of Policing in England and Wales, published in 2022, laid out a roadmap for police reform much of which is now being pursued by government.

“The Foundation is a unique institution, not just in this country, but internationally. It is one of very few organisations in global policing that combines an independence from politics and the police, with being a constructive partner working at the interface between policing, government, academia and civil society.

“At a time when public trust and confidence in the police are strained and when the world around us is changing at a rapid pace, it is more important than ever that we have sources of independent thought leadership to inform police policy and practice.”