Assistant chief constable

An assistant chief constable is a core rank position within policing. It's a force leader role in the policing professional profiles. 

Role purpose

The assistant chief constable is responsible for contributing to the creation of the vision and setting direction and culture for the force as part of the chief officer team, building public and organisational confidence and trust, and enabling the delivery of an effective policing service. They contribute to the development and implementation of the force’s delivery plan. They are responsible for reviewing and driving performance and culture within their designated area of responsibility to provide a professional, effective and efficient policing service in line with the direction and vision of the force.

The assistant chief constable is directly responsible for leading and commanding the operational policing responses within their area of responsibility. The assistant chief constable contributes to the development of regional and national policing within a specific area of expertise and may be accountable for national operations or standard setting.

Key responsibilities

Key responsibility statements show the accountabilities for someone in this role. They focus on what is done, not how it is done.

• Liaising with the chief officer team to develop operational plans to enable the effective and compliant implementation of the force delivery plan within their area of responsibility.
• Leading responses to particularly high risk and/or cross-force major events and serious investigations, setting strategic objectives and priorities, assessing and managing threat and risks and directing the deployment of resources to ensure an appropriate and effective response in line with legal and force requirements.
• Representing the force at a local, regional and national level to the public, media and other external stakeholders to support the chief constable to promote visibility, connect with the public and build confidence in policing.
• Developing and maintaining strategic partnerships and relationships with local and regional partners, enabling alignment on how best to collaborate and work together and deliver on shared outcomes.
• Representing the force, whilst maintaining operational independence, and liaising with the Office of the Police Crime Commissioner (PCC) to provide operational information in relation to their area of responsibility to enable the PCC to provide public assurance.
• Effectively managing and encouraging development, change and innovation, ensuring enhanced productivity, value for money and continuous improvement in problem solving and evidence-based policing.
• Supporting the chief constable to create and embed an organisational climate that is inclusive, building confidence in doing the right thing, challenging barriers, promoting ethical behaviour,  and maximising the value brought by different perspectives and experiences, by role modelling the right behaviours, remaining impartial and ensuring the right systems and processes are in place so that the force is designed and operates in line with its values and ethics to enable successful policing.
• Leading, motivating and engaging a team of senior policing professionals, developing and embedding strategies that promote workforce wellbeing, enable continuing professional development, regular review conversations and performance management and enabling identification and support for talent development, career planning and a high-performing team that contributes effectively to the achievement of force objectives.
• Setting and managing budgets, resource plans and staffing strategies across their portfolio in line with the wider budget framework and the changing demands, capability and capacity of the workforce, to maximise the efficient use of resources, ensure the effective use of public spending, and maximise value for money.
• Leading the delivery of force operational strategies and policing responses and investigations across own area of responsibility to ensure an efficient and compliant policing service, which enables effective law enforcement and public protection.
• Supporting the setting of the organisational and operational strategy for the force, in alignment with wider plans and objectives such as the Police and Crime Plan and Strategic Policing Requirement to provide an effective and efficient policing service that meets current and future policing demands.
• Supporting the chief constable in embedding a culture of organisational development, change and innovation, ensuring enhanced productivity, value for money and continuous improvement in evidence-based policing.
• Effectively measuring, evaluating and reporting on performance within own area of responsibility utilising findings to drive improvements in service delivery.
• Supporting an environment that nurtures open communication, growth and accountability. Adopting a people-centred approach to enabling professional development, promoting a culture of care and continuing development, where contributions are recognised, and the organisation demonstrates connection with its people leading to individual and organisational success.