New director appointed at The Police Foundation

He will replace Rick Muir who stood down in April after ten years as director to take up a new role at the Home Office.

Mr Gibbs has expertise in public policy and government relations and for 20 years he has researched and advised on criminal justice, policing and drugs policy in the UK and more recently, in Canada.

He is the founder of The Policy Works, where he supports a range of clients on policy, strategy and public affairs.

He was special adviser to the Prime Minister in the No10 Policy Unit from July 2019 to October 2020 and before that he was senior adviser to the Justice Secretary 2015 to 2016.

Mr Gibbs was also principal adviser at the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime in London from 2012 until 2015.

His work in North America has involved research on the opioids crisis in Canada, and alcohol and public safety policies for the Stanford Network for Addiction Policy, along with public attitudes research fora variety of clients, and most recently, providing support to the government of Alberta in Canada to study the impacts of drug policy and to deliver its ‘Recovery Oriented System of Care’ across the province.

Mr Gibbs has been a regular commentator on policing, government reform and criminal justice and is relocating to the UK to take up the post of director in September this year.

He said: “I am looking forward to leading the important work of The Police Foundation. Good policing is vital for a safe and prosperous country and the Foundation will continue to be a champion for the Peelian principles that underpin Britain’s democratic policing model.

“Like many countries, police in the UK are facing new crime demands and other social developments that will test them in the years ahead.

“Our research will help support the police in their work and prepare them for future challenges, as well as increase public understanding and recognition of the critical role that our police officers play.

“The Police Foundation will give decision-makers the policy ideas, international best practice, and new data, to make policing even more effective.”

Dame Sara Thornton, chair of The Police Foundation said: “I am delighted to announce that Blair Gibbs will be the new director at the Police Foundation.

“Blair has a great track record of working with policing to develop new ideas, promote reform and use data and research to improve outcomes. I am very much looking forward to working with him.”