Police leadership needs fundamental reform, the findings of the review show

Police leadership is consistently inadequate and in need of fundamental reform, a landmark independent review has warned.

The Police Leadership Commission’s report published on Monday found that the system for identifying and developing leaders is so weak that chief constable roles in England and Wales often attract only one suitable candidate.

He also pointed to low morale and motivation in the service, recommending improved recruitment and promotion procedures.

Police Minister Sarah Jones said the recommendations would form part of the government’s “police reform program to strengthen leadership, raise standards and restore confidence in the police”.

Speaking before publication, Co-author Lord Blunkett told the BBC that the leadership of the service needed a “moral reset”.Several senior officers have faced internal investigation.

“I think there are eight former or serving chief constables who are currently under disciplinary action or awaiting the outcome,” he said. “And this is one of the 43 powers.”

The report also pointed to challenges such as a lack of or resources, excessive paperwork and officers feeling “overwhelmed” by negative and overly risk-averse leadership cultures.

The commission, chaired by former Labor home secretary Lord Blunkett and former Conservative police minister Lord Herbert, was set up with Home Office support in October 2025 amid declining public confidence in the service and a major review of its culture.

Evidence was gathered from a survey of nearly 2,000 sergeants and inspectors, expert roundtable discussions and responses to more than 400 calls for evidence.

Among the issues that were brought to the commission’s attention was the lack of leadership support from front-line officers. Data, External.

In addition, the postcode lottery found a way to promote it, raising concerns among some officers about nepotism and bias, as well as limited investment in leadership development.

Following the publication of the report, Lord Blunkett said the commission had found “good examples of people who have changed public delivery” but also found “very serious evidence of a need for deeper change”.

It recommends that central funding for police leadership development be restored, in line with other public services such as the NHS.

Other recommendations include a new senior constable rank to reward and recognize experienced front-line officers with leadership and mentoring colleagues, as well as nationally recognized training for new constables.

He also called for a new sergeant qualification to replace an “outdated” test currently passed by less than half of candidates, as well as “urgent action to build a reliable pipeline of future chief constables”.

The commission recommended that the National Police Leadership Academy support the “consistent high-quality development” of a “robust candidate pipeline” in the force.

Sir Andy Marsh, former chief constable and chief executive at the College of Policing, said the report was “the most comprehensive test of police leadership in a generation”.

He added, “We will use this opportunity to invest time and resources so that those who join the police force can work, protect the public and catch criminals.”

None of the 43 police forces in England and Wales were rated as leaders in the “recent round of inspections”. One third were rated as requiring improvement and two as inadequate.

The Home Office said it would consider the commission’s recommendations and publish the government’s response this autumn.

Police Minister Sarah Jones said the department is aware of the significant challenges facing leaders and that “leadership is aware of too many examples where officers and the public have failed to meet the standards expected”.

He added: “Every officer deserves access to high quality training, development and leadership throughout their career and we know this is not being consistently delivered.”