New College of Policing Interim CEO announced

Jo brings almost two decades of experience in policing leadership and workforce reform to the role. After a successful private sector career, she joined the National Policing Improvement Agency in 2008, going on to lead talent and leadership programmes that transferred to the newly-formed College of Policing in 2012.

She later directed the Strategic Command Course, the gateway to chief officer rank in every force, where her 2017 review of selection processes led to increasingly diverse cohorts of chief officer candidates.

Appointed Director of Leadership and Workforce Development in 2019, Jo led the creation of the National Centre for Police Leadership and was the College's lead on the Police Uplift Programme, which supported the recruitment of over 20,000 additional police officers nationally.

Most recently, as Chief Operating Officer, she led the Future College programme, driving major organisational reform to strengthen the College's capability to support policing.

Her appointment as Interim CEO reflects her depth of experience across leadership development and organisational transformation, and her long-standing commitment to raising standards across the service.

She will lead the College until it forms part of the new National Police Service next year.

I am delighted that Jo Noakes will lead the College as its new Interim CEO.

Jo has played an important role in the transformation of the College to focus on leadership, standards and performance, and she is widely respected across the police service.

She takes the helm at a vital time for policing and as we prepare for the College’s move into the National Police Service. She will be directly supported by Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson, who sits on our board and is amongst the most experienced senior officers in the country.

I and the Board of the College look forward to working with Jo so that our reforms to drive improvements in policing to cut crime and keep people safe are continued.”

College of Policing Chair Nick Herbert (Lord Herbert of South Downs)

Jo is an excellent leader who has a proven track record of making changes to better the service. I look forward to working alongside her during this vital next chapter for policing to achieve the best possible service to the public."

College of Policing Board member and Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson

I am enormously proud to lead the College and build on the dedication of colleagues across policing who work tirelessly to keep the public safe.

Having spent almost two decades working across leadership and workforce development and organisational reform, I have seen first-hand the difference that strong support and training can make to officers and staff.

The College plays an essential part in making sure they are trained and equipped to meet the challenges of a job that becomes more complex every year.

Over the coming months we will see the start of the largest reforms to policing since the service was founded two centuries ago. My focus will be on high-quality leadership, consistent standards and continual performance improvement so that everyone in policing can reach their full potential. 

Policing is a dangerous and challenging job which requires exceptional skill and resilience. The systems and support that officers rely on have not changed significantly in decades, despite huge cultural, technological and societal shifts around them.

We’ll work together with our partners to address the challenges facing policing and to build a service that is trusted, resilient and effective now and in the future.”

Interim CEO Jo Noakes

 Jo succeeds Sir Andy Marsh who will take up a new post as His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.

The College has also appointed a new Director of Operational Standards, Assistant Chief Constable Arman Mathieson. ACC Mathieson is an experienced Chief Officer from Gloucestershire Constabulary who has, over the past 3 years, led the Crime, Justice and Vulnerability, Legitimacy and Misconduct and Local Policing, Contact and Operations commands.

He is also the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for Information Disorder (Mis, Dis and Malinformation).

I am delighted to be joining the College of Policing at a time when the service is undergoing significant change to improve how we keep the public safe.

Central to my role will be the support I provide to the dedicated officers, staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to deliver for victims and communities.

My focus will be on working with colleagues across the country to ensure we consistently deliver high standards and performance to the public."

ACC Mathieson

ACC Mathieson will bring real value to the direction of the College and comes with a wealth of experience in operational policing from response and neighbourhoods to serious crime and investigations. The Board looks forward to his contribution to strengthen the future of policing."

Lord Herbert