Police leadership review must be a ‘wake-up call’ for service, says branch chair
7 July 2026
The publication of a major review into police leadership should serve as a wake-up call for policing, according to West Mercia Police Federation chair Gareth Spreadbury.
Responding to the Police Leadership Commission's report, Gareth said many of its findings reflected concerns officers have been raising for years about leadership, culture and decision-making within the service.
"This report reflects what I've felt for a long time - real leadership has been missing across policing for many years," said Gareth.
He added: "Too often, it can feel like decisions about people, risk and the organisation appear to be driven by how the decision-maker will be perceived and how the outcome will affect them personally, rather than what is right for the workforce or the communities we serve."
Branch chair Gareth Spreadbury
The report, commissioned by the Home Secretary and chaired by former Home Secretary Lord Blunkett and former Policing Minister Lord Herbert, calls for significant reform in how policing recruits, develops and supports leaders.
It follows months of evidence gathering from across the service, including submissions from the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) and frontline officers.
Gareth believes the review highlights the need for policing to refocus on its people.
"I think in a lot of cases, police leadership has lost sight of its primary function, which is its people," he said.
Concerns
"We need to put people back at the forefront of our decision-making because we're now seeing officers make decisions based on the same fears and concerns that exist higher up the organisation.
"That culture of fear is contributing to many of the challenges policing is currently facing. Officers should be empowered to do their jobs professionally and confidently, not constantly worried about perception or repercussions."
The report paints a picture of a service under pressure, with supervisors facing increasing demands, talented officers struggling to progress and experienced personnel leaving policing before reaching their full potential.
Among its recommendations are improved leadership training, stronger supervision, fairer promotion processes and greater investment in leadership development.
PFEW has welcomed many of the proposals while stressing that meaningful reform will depend on proper funding and implementation.
Transparency
For Gareth, any changes must be built on a return to the core values that help create trust and confidence throughout the service.
"We need to bring back truth, trust and transparency," he said, adding: "Those principles have to be at the heart of leadership if we're serious about improving policing and supporting officers.
"It's not enough for these ideas to exist as words on a poster or in a strategy document. We need meaningful change that officers can see and feel in their day-to-day working lives."
While welcoming the report's publication, Gareth said the true measure of its success would be whether leaders across policing act on its findings.
"This report should be viewed as a wake-up call," he said, adding: "The question is whether those in leadership positions choose to see it that way.
Improvements
"Policing now has an opportunity to make genuine improvements, but that will only happen if the recommendations are implemented and supported by real action. Officers have been raising these concerns for years. Now is the time to listen and deliver the change that's needed."
PFEW 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.
In a statement released from PFEW, it said: “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.”
