Police leadership needs fundamental overhaul, review finds

Police leadership needs fundamental overhaul, review findsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, A major review says recruitment, training and promotion within the service needs to be reformedByAmy WalkerPublished2 minutes agoPolice leadership is not consistently of a high enough standard and requires a fundamental overhaul, a landmark independent review has warned.The report by the Police Leadership Commission, published on Monday, found the system for identifying and developing leaders was too weak, with chief constable roles in England and Wales often attracting a single suitable candidate.It also pointed to low morale and motivation within the service, recommending reformed recruitment and promotion processes.Policing minister Sarah Jones said the recommendations would shape the government's "programme of police reform to strengthen leadership, raise standards and restore confidence in policing".Speaking ahead of its publication, co-author Lord Blunkett told the BBC the service's leadership needed an "ethical reset", with a number of senior officers having faced internal investigations. "I think at the moment, there are eight former or serving chief constables who are either under disciplinary action or awaiting the result," he said. "And that's out of 43 forces."The report also highlighted challenges including a scarcity or resources, excessive paperwork and officers feeling "demotivated" by negative and overly risk-averse leadership cultures.The Commission, chaired by former Labour home secretary Lord Blunkett and former Conservative policing minister Lord Herbert, was set up in October 2025 with the support of the Home Office amid declining public confidence in the service and heightened scrutiny of its culture.Evidence was gathered from a survey of nearly 2,000 sergeants and inspectors, expert round-table discussions and more than 400 responses to an open call for evidence.Areas of concern hi...