The police leadership commission will assess current leadership capabilities, identify gaps and challenges, and make recommendations for change.
The police leadership commission, led by former Home Secretary Lord Blunkett, and former Policing Minister Lord Herbert of South Downs, provides an opportunity to assess current leadership capabilities at all levels, consider progress achieved to date, and identify future gaps and challenges.
Public confidence that the police will deal with crime in their area effectively has fallen, digital crime continues to become more sophisticated and violence against women and girls persists at high levels. These are some of the challenges facing policing which require exceptional leadership.
In recognition of these challenges, a police leadership commission has been set up by the College, with the support of the Home Office. It will play a key role in supporting the government's police reform agenda, with a White Paper due to be published later this year.
Supporting leadership
The commission aims to strengthen police leadership and equip leaders with the skills and capabilities needed to provide the public with a trusted and effective service that is fit for the future, cuts crime and keeps people safe.
The commission will:
- seek to identify best practice and learning from a wide range of sectors
- examine the current entry routes and consider potential alternative models to attract, fast track and develop the most talented
- bring together expertise from senior police leaders, politicians, military, private sector and academics
- engage widely across all ranks, forces and specialisms, working closely with the College to ensure practical, achievable recommendations
- examine the current training programmes for officers and staff, and the amount spent on training compared with other major public services such as the military
- look at how performance is appraised and what measures should be in place to best support police
- evaluate national leadership standards and development programmes, and explore how leadership shapes police culture, addresses systemic issues and rebuilds public trust
Further commission information
Contact information
To learn more about the commission or to contribute to the review, email LeadershipCommission@college.police.uk