Federation: We need best leadership within the police service

10 July 2023

Cumbria Police Federation has called for an appropriate promotion process to ensure the best leadership within the police service.

Ed Russell, Federation Chair, was speaking as the College of Policing announced a new leadership standard for all officers, staff and volunteers.

Currently around 80% of officers and staff choose not to move beyond PC rank, meaning huge swathes of the workforce don't currently receive any form of leadership training.

Welcoming the new standard, Ed said: “Cumbria police federation welcome the concept of the national centre for police leadership.

There are good leaders in every station up and down the force regardless of their role or rank. A meritocratic approach to policing promotion and a general reform to inconsistent national processes will help the right candidates fulfil their potential.”

A recent HM Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services survey showed that of a pool of 300 promotion candidates, 74% found the processes not to be “transparent or fair”.

Ed added: “An appropriate promotion process is vital to ensure the best leaders are identified, supported and empowered to achieve the best for the public and the organisation.”

Chief Constable Andy Marsh, CEO of the College of Policing, said: “This is the hardest time for policing I can remember in almost 40 years’ service and we cannot continue along this path. Something radical must be done.

“Policing must have high quality leaders at every rank and grade. We know about 80 per cent of officers and staff choose not to move beyond the rank of police constable so it cannot be right that leadership training is only given to those who seek promotion.

“We can no longer afford to underinvest in the people we expect to lead. Everyone in policing should be given the leadership training and development they need so they are fully equipped to solve more crimes, keep people safe and call out internal bad behaviour.”