PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
West Mercia Police (30 August 2024)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of not having a permanent Chief Constable since 2023 on the governance of West Mercia Police; and what discussions she has had with (a) the force and (b) the Police and Crime Commissioner on that matter.

Asked by:
Shaun Davies (Labour)

Strong and consistent leadership is essential in ensuring high standards in police forces. In the absence of a permanent Chief Constable, regulations allow for an acting Chief Constable to be in place on an interim basis, in order to provide for consistency in leadership.

The recruitment of Chief Constables is a matter for locally elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). Schedule 8 to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 sets out the requirements that PCCs must follow when appointing a Chief Constable. This includes a requirement for the local Police and Crime Panel to review and report on the proposed appointment, as well as the Panel’s right to veto the proposed appointment with a two-thirds majority. PCCs should use the national guidance set out by the College of Policing for appointing chief officers, which includes advice on encouraging applications and generating a strong and diverse pool of applicants.

Answered by:
Dame Diana Johnson (Labour)
9 September 2024