Inspector

An inspector is a core position within policing. It's a manager or expert adviser role in the policing professional profiles. The inspector core rank profile outlines the basic requirements of the role. It should be used alongside a specialist inspector role. These specialist roles can be found in the related roles section.

Role purpose

Inspectors manage teams of sergeants, constables, and police staff. They may also have responsibility for portfolios. Post holders may be senior operational officers or manage assigned specialist policing functions. This role carries specific legal powers to enable the maintenance of law and order.

Inspectors plan, manage, and monitor operational policing activity. They effectively and efficiently deploy resources to incidents, including critical ones. Inspectors manage and mitigate risk effectively. They ensure the safety and wellbeing of officers, staff and the public, and respond effectively to problems, incidents and crime.

Key responsibilities

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

• Leading multiple teams and upholding values and ethical standards. Acting with the highest level of professionalism in accordance with the law, public interest, and professional policing practice to protect the public by preventing and detecting crime.

• Planning, managing and monitoring the operational policing and investigation activity for teams. Managing competing demands and priorities to make informed deployment decisions. Ensuring best use of available resources to deliver an effective response which supports law enforcement and enables public safety.
• Identifying, managing, and mitigating operational threats and risks in line with national guidance and operational policing plans in order to ensure the safety of officers, staff, and the public.
• Managing the initial response to critical incidents, in alignment with relevant frameworks and guidance. Ensuring appropriate resource allocation and risk management to enable effective service delivery.
• Leading engagement and building collaborative working relationships with communities, partners and other stakeholders. Agreeing appropriate responses to enable an effective approach to preventing and tackling crime and vulnerability.
• Analysing and evaluating the effectiveness of existing processes and practices within area of work in order to identify and implement opportunities for change and innovation. Promoting best practice and enabling improvement, problem solving approaches and evidence-based policing within teams.
• Leading, motivating, developing, and engaging a team of sergeants, constables and police staff. Supporting and enabling continuing professional development through regular review conversations. This will also involve discussing and agreeing goals and standards and giving timely, specific and constructive feedback. Enabling identification and support for talent development, career planning and high-performing teams. 
• Fostering an inclusive team approach that role models ethical behaviours and combines diverse perspectives and experiences. Supporting people to contribute, challenge, and share feedback so that the team operates in line with the force’s values and ethics, enabling successful policing.
• Protecting and promoting wellbeing and welfare of teams and individuals. Supporting team members to recognise and address wellbeing needs to protect and enhance the working environment.
• Managing matrix teams, providing direction and delegating effectively. Maintaining control and awareness of situations and progress to provide an efficient and effective response to problems, incidents, and crime in line with organisational requirements.
• Reviewing and reporting on team expenditure to ensure the efficient use of available budgets and maximise value for money.
• Analysing performance data and information against team objectives in order to effectively inform workforce planning, budgets and the measurement of department and force goals.
• Contributing to the setting, monitoring and assessment of team and individual key performance indicators in alignment with wider objectives. Taking corrective action as necessary to ensure that the team effectively contribute towards the achievement of force objectives.