Police Leaders Must Have Operational Experience

7 July 2026

Sussex Police Federation has welcomed a new independent report that recommends ways to improve police leadership and officer morale, but it stresses that good leaders need extensive operational experience.

The Police Leadership Commission’s report, published this week, highlights challenges including a scarcity of resources, excessive paperwork, and officers being "demotivated" by negative and overly risk-averse leadership cultures. It warned that police leadership is not consistently of a high enough standard and requires a fundamental overhaul, recommending a "root and branch modernisation" of recruitment, development and monitoring within the police service.

The report was produced by former Home Secretary Lord Blunkett and former Policing Minister Lord Herbert for the College of Policing. Ahead of its publication, Lord Blunkett told the BBC: “At the moment, the service isn't good enough. At the moment, the morale and motivation of many of those working in the service needs a reset."

Sussex Police Federation Chair Raffaele Cioffi said: “I welcome this report because it acknowledges many of the concerns police officers have been raising for a long time.

“Good leadership has a huge influence on morale, wellbeing and the service we provide to our communities, so it's encouraging to see such a clear recognition that change is needed.

“What's important now is that these recommendations don't simply become another report that sits on a shelf. We need meaningful investment in developing leaders at every level of policing, giving them the time, support and training they need to succeed.

“I also believe we need to be careful that any move towards fast-tracking future leaders doesn't come at the expense of operational experience. The best police leaders earn the trust and confidence of their teams because they've faced the same challenges, made difficult decisions on the frontline and understand the realities of the job. Leadership can be developed, but experience cannot be rushed."

Among the recommendations in the report, its authors say that a new senior constable rank should be introduced to provide effective leadership on the frontline. In addition, the promotion processes to sergeant and inspector should be reformed, to equip these ranks with the knowledge and confidence to lead teams and serve the public.

PCs trained through the Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP) should gain accreditation and recognition of their learning, the report said, adding that forces should support officer recruits to choose the most appropriate training programme for them.

The report added that everyone in policing should have the opportunity to gain recognition of their learning and experience within a national system. This would aid progression, exit and re-entry into policing, and movement between forces. Raffaele said it was interesting that they were looking at training officers with transferable skills who can move between jobs and fill gaps in the service.
 
The report also recommends a leadership fast-track programme, to identify, develop and accelerate those with talent and ambition to be senior police officers.

However, Raffaele questioned whether fast-tracked officers will gain enough frontline experience before promotion.

You can read the full report here: https://www.college.police.uk/police-leadership-commission