The Police Federation has described a major review into police leadership as a "watershed moment" for the service, urging the Government to fund reforms and warning policing cannot afford to lose any more experienced officers.

The call follows the publication of a report by the Police Leadership Commission, chaired by former Home Secretary Lord Blunkett and former Policing Minister Lord Herbert, which concludes policing requires a fundamental reset in how it recruits, develops and supports leaders.

The report validates concerns officers have been raising for years and demonstrates the need for significant investment in leadership development across policing.

Deputy National Secretary of the Police Federation of England and Wales Mel Warnes said: "This report confirms what we've been saying for years, and it must be a watershed moment for policing. Many of these recommendations aren't new; they're simply the product of finally listening to those at the sharp end of policing.

"If police bosses now accept the report's recommendations, they must also accept responsibility for creating the conditions that made them necessary.

“We have lost too many outstanding leaders and future leaders because they've been overworked, underpaid and unsupported. The Home Secretary must now fund this vital change and require chief constables to implement it."

The Commission's report is the result of months of evidence gathering from across policing, including submissions from the Federation and thousands of officers serving in forces across England and Wales.

Many of the report's conclusions will be familiar to officers because they reflect long-standing concerns about excessive workloads, limited support and the growing challenge of retaining experienced personnel.

The review paints a picture of a service under considerable pressure, where supervisors are often overwhelmed by the demands placed upon them, talented officers can struggle to progress, and experienced staff are leaving policing before reaching their full potential.

Decades of underinvestment in leadership development have left policing without the support needed to nurture and retain effective leaders at every rank.

The report demonstrates the value of officers sharing their experiences and highlighted the contribution made by members throughout the Commission's work.

Federation representatives met with the review team during the process and said evidence provided by frontline officers was recognised as a significant part of the final report.

Among the recommendations welcomed by the Federation are improved leadership training, stronger supervision, fairer promotion processes and clearer opportunities for career development.

The organisation has also backed proposals aimed at recognising and retaining experienced frontline officers, increasing national investment in leadership development and introducing a new rank of senior constable.

The Police Federation believes these are practical measures rather than radical reforms and reflect changes officers have been seeking for many years.

Additionally, questions remain around the practicality of fast-track leadership programmes if they do not provide officers with sufficient operational experience before promotion.

Concerns also persist on expanding direct-entry routes into senior policing roles. Leadership credibility is rooted in frontline experience and operational knowledge.

Despite those concerns, the report should be viewed as a positive opportunity for reform rather than a moment for celebration. Meaningful change will depend on implementation, not publication alone.

The Federation is now calling on the Home Office to provide the funding required to deliver the recommendations and ensure police forces are held accountable for putting reforms into practice.

The Federation also argues any discussion about developing future leaders must be matched by efforts to retain current ones. Experienced officers continue to leave the service because of poor pay, relentless workloads and a lack of support.

Unless those issues are addressed alongside leadership reforms, policing will continue to lose precisely the people needed to mentor the next generation and keep communities safe.

You can read the full report here.