Police and crime commissioners join our board
PCC Festus Akinbusoye from Bedfordshire and PCC Jeff Cuthbert from Gwent join us to boost professionalism, improve leadership and drive consistency across our service.
PCC Akinbusoye was elected in May 2021. Prior to election he was a special constable, a parish councillor and volunteered as mentor to young offenders in prison. He also serves as Association of Police and Crime Commissioner portfolio lead for crime prevention. Key areas of interest include problem-solving, community based policing and early intervention.
PCC Cuthbert was elected as police and crime commissioner in 2016 and re-elected in 2021. A former engineer, he was elected to the National Assembly for Wales and served as the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty. He is a former chair of the Welsh Assembly's Committee on Standards of Conduct.
The purpose of our board is to set strategic direction and ensure we meet our obligations to the public, our members, our partners and the Home Secretary.
I am honoured to join the board of the College of Policing at this most critical time in the history of British policing. The challenge is immense, but so are the opportunities ahead.
Supporting and challenging the College's leadership in delivering its core responsibilities of improving standards in British policing, developing leadership, and driving consistency across our police forces are opportunities I look forward to.
PCC Festus Akinbusoye
Both PCCs joined their first board meeting on 21 March.
As a former Welsh Government minister for skills and technology I am passionate about learning, professional development and sharing knowledge and good practice. I am delighted to have been appointed to the board of the College of Policing and I look forward to working together with colleagues to play a role in the development of UK policing going forward.
PCC Jeff Cuthbert
The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners is also represented on our board by its chair, Marc Jones.