Congratulations to Russell Pengelly, who has been elected unopposed as the new Chair of City of London Police Federation.

Russell takes over from Mike Reed, who retires as Chair at the end of November. Russell is currently deputising for Mike and will formally take up his new post from 1 December.

Russell, who has been a police officer for 25 years, said he was “very honoured” to have been elected as Chair.

He added: “Throughout my career, I have remained committed to the values of fairness, integrity, and representing the best interests of my colleagues at every level.

“We have been incredibly fortunate to have had Mike Reed as our leading voice, and I’ve been very proud to support him in his efforts.

“I believe now more than ever, we need to continue that strong, experienced leadership to ensure the voices of our officers are heard, protected, and acted upon. I bring to this role a deep understanding of the challenges we face, as well as the relationships and skills necessary to advocate effectively on your behalf.

“Over the years, I’ve built excellent working relationships with senior leadership, key local businesses, and political figures across the City. These trusted connections put me in a strong position to influence decisions that affect us all and to ensure that our federation is not only heard, but respected.

"I am passionate about fairness – whether it’s around working conditions, conduct matters, equality, welfare support, or pay and benefits. As Chair, I will fight for transparency, stand up for those who feel unheard, and ensure that every member, regardless of rank or role, knows they have someone in their corner

“Thank you for all that our officers do for everyone who lives and works in the City of London.”

Mike said: “‘I wish Russell all the very best as he takes over as Chair. Having seen him perform recently as Deputy Chair, with a large workload of misconduct and performance issues, I am sure that he will serve our members well and is a good choice for the City of London Police Federation.”