Report: Nepotism and bias rife in England and Wales police leadership
A government-backed report has found that police leadership in England and Wales is plagued by nepotism and bias, with many senior officers losing focus on fighting crime.
Police leadership in England and Wales is plagued by 'nepotism and bias' and too many chiefs have lost focus on fighting crime, a government-backed report has found.
The inquiry, co-chaired by former home secretary David Blunkett, found a reset was needed at all levels, with scores of top officers facing misconduct inquiries.
The report, released on Monday, covers the 43 forces in England and Wales and finds a 'postcode lottery' in how well the public is served. It said: 'We have also identified systemic causes for concern about the consistency, capability and culture of leadership across the service.'
Blunkett told the Guardian the police service was not good enough and some of the findings were 'staggeringly' poor. The report finds leaders 'insufficiently focused on delivering outcomes for the public', such as cutting crime.
A key theme is nepotism in promotions. The report said: 'Talent identification and promotions decisions in policing are often shaped in the image of the leaders who are responsible for them at a local level. This has created fertile ground for nepotism and bias to influence progression and development.' One officer told the report: 'It is very clearly nepotistic. Jobs for the boys or the girls who’re mates with the right people.'
Since 2018, there have been 78 investigations into police leaders from assistant chief constable upwards. Eight chief constables or former chief constables are either under investigation or awaiting disciplinary proceedings. An example is former Northamptonshire chief constable Nick Adderley, who was dismissed for lying on his CV and charged with fraud and misconduct.
The report found that only 13% of constables and 17% of sergeants agreed they worked in a 'well led and managed organisation'.
Among 27 recommendations are a new national academy of police leadership, a fast stream for future leaders and more money for leadership training, with a current spend of about £4m in a service costing £19bn a year.
