Statement from Humberside Police Federation

16 October 2024

Humberside Police Federation has significant concerns about the Humberside Police executive leadership team - following the publication of the HMIC inspection report into the force.

The Federation has thought long and hard about making a public statement on this matter, however this decision has been compounded following a meeting chaired by the executive leadership team this morning. As such the Federation has decided to speak out.

HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke expressed specific concerns about the “instability” of executive leadership in the force in a letter accompanying the inspection report, which was published today.

Mr Cooke has said the leadership of the force would be kept under close scrutiny by HMICFRS.

Humberside Police Federation is extremely concerned that the executive leadership team was openly dismissive of all concerns raised about the force by both Mr Cooke and the HMIC inspection report.

We have been inundated with phone calls from our members expressing their upset and disappointment about the executive leadership team’s attitude to the report, with some members being brought to tears.

As a Federation, we feel that the excellent hard work that is being undertaken by our members across Humberside is being undermined by the inability of the executive leadership team to accept or learn from constructive criticism and feedback.

This cannot continue.

HMIC Michelle Skeer, who oversaw the investigation into the force, said she is “concerned about a lack of stability in the chief officer team and among other senior leaders”. She continued: “I am concerned about how this may negatively affect the force’s performance and culture now and in the future.”

Humberside Police Federation shares the concerns of HMIC Skeer, and we would ask publicly that the HMICFRS focuses closely on the actions of the Humberside Police executive leadership team.

And if these concerns remain, that they are brought directly to the desks of the Home Secretary and Police Minister.

We are aware that the leadership of the force is rightly a matter of concern for our local MPs. And we also ask them to hold the force and the PCC to account on this matter.

The conduct of police officers – at all ranks – must be of the highest level of professionalism and integrity at all times.