Major review of police leadership announced
The leadership of policing in England and Wales is to undergo its most significant review for a generation, it was announced today (October 23).
Former Home Secretary Lord Blunkett is to chair a Commission on police leadership to examine its development at every level of policing.
The Police Leadership Commission has been set up by the College of Policing, with the support of the Home Office. It will play a key role in supporting the Government’s police reform agenda, with a White Paper due to be published later this year.
The initiative will draw together police leaders and private sector, academic and military experts to review current leadership capabilities and programmes, and to determine what policing requires to ensure that the service is equal to the demands of the future.
The latest annual assessment by His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Andy Cooke on the efficiency and effectiveness of policing underlined the importance of good leadership, while a series of damaging recent incidents has undermined public confidence in the service. Public confidence that the police will deal effectively with crime in their local area has fallen significantly in the past five years, while new problems such as a high turnover of chief constables have emerged.
The Commission will consider what skills and capabilities are needed in police leaders of all ranks to ensure they can perform and deliver effectively. It will draw on the best evidence in the public and private sectors, and internationally, of successful leadership development, review current training regimes and consider how the performance of officers and staff is appraised.
The Commission will examine the current entry routes into policing and consider potential alternative models to attract, fast-track and develop the brightest talent. It will also review the impact of police reforms to date, the level of investment in leadership development and the balance between national and local programmes.
Members of the Commission include former New York City Police chief Bill Bratton; the chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, Sir Stephen Watson; and the Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Major General Nick Cowley. The chair of the College of Policing, Lord Herbert of South Downs, will co-chair the Commission.
It will consult widely and take evidence sessions, while professional reference groups will ensure that key policing organisations and experts are kept closely in touch with progress and are able to feed in their views.
The Police Foundation will be a research partner.
The Commission will report in May next year with the aim of producing a long-term plan for reform.
Lord Blunkett said: “When communities believe police actions are fair and just, policing works. When that trust erodes, the entire system is at risk.
“Public institutions globally are facing declining trust and policing is not immune. The evidence is mounting that the culture must change.
“Digital crime grows more sophisticated by the day and violence against women and girls persists at alarming levels.
“These challenges demand exceptional leadership at every level and the Police Leadership Commission will examine what policing requires to ensure the service is equal to the demands of the future.
“It has never been more important to ensure that we can recruit, train and retain exceptional police leaders at all levels.”
He added: “The Commission will aim to offer a blueprint for police leadership that helps to ensure this vital public service is equal to the demands of the future, cuts crime and keeps the public safe.”
Policing and Crime Minister, Sarah Jones, said: “Leaders at every level of policing shape the culture of their workforces. They set the expectations that all officers and staff follow – when standards slip, confidence in the police falls.
“As we embark on our ambitious plan to reform policing, we will ensure that forces have the leadership they need to fight crime, protect communities and make people safe. This review will be vital to that.”
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services will be conducting its own independent inspection of police leadership in 2026, and it will be considering the Commission’s findings in its report.
In response to the announcement, Association of Police and Crime Commissioners chair Emily Spurrell said: “It is imperative that leadership across policing is of the absolute highest quality, so I welcome this review. It is particularly positive to see the broad scope of the Commission’s remit to find ways of unlocking and developing leadership potential.
“High standards, integrity, inclusivity and a positive culture are all key to achieving the levels of trust and public confidence to which policing rightly aspires. An organisation’s culture is led from the top, but strong and effective leadership is needed at every level amongst police officers, police staff and volunteers if policing is to succeed in delivering positive outcomes for the public.
“As the voice of the public, police and crime commissioners and deputy mayors are already working with government and our policing partners on ambitious reforms, to ensure the service is fit for the future.
“Now is the right time to identify the changes needed to improve policing leadership, to deliver for the public a first-rate police service from top to bottom.”