New commission to review police leadership amid reform drive

A new independent commission has been launched to review police leadership at every level, aiming to ensure the service can meet changing demands and public expectations.

Set up by the College of Policing with support from the Home Office, the commission will feed into the government’s wider police reform agenda, with a white paper expected later this year.

The review will run for six months from late October 2025 and will be co-chaired by Lord Blunkett, former Home Secretary, and Lord Herbert of South Downs, former Policing Minister. Together, they will lead an assessment of current leadership capabilities across policing, identifying key gaps and challenges shaping the future of the service.

The commission will draw on expertise from within and outside policing, including senior officers, politicians, academics, private sector specialists and military leaders, to determine what skills, culture and capabilities policing needs to be fit for the future.

Why now?

The review comes as the government pushes ahead with its Plan for Change, which includes putting 13,000 additional officers on the beat and halving knife crime and violence against women and girls within a decade.

Confidence in policing has declined in recent years, with several reports highlighting issues such as discrimination, misconduct and the need for cultural reform. Meanwhile, the nature of crime continues to evolve, from online and digitally enabled offending to increasing violence and social media’s influence on public perception, placing fresh pressure on already stretched forces.

Scope of the review

The commission will explore what makes effective police leadership today and in the future, including:

• The skills and attributes required at every level of leadership.
• Current entry routes and potential new pathways to attract and develop talent.
• The impact of recent reforms and investment in leadership development.
• The balance between national and local leadership programmes.

It will also consider how leadership influences police culture and the response to systemic challenges, working closely with the College of Policing to ensure its recommendations are practical and achievable.

The commission’s findings, due to be presented to government in May 2026, are expected to shape a new blueprint for police leadership focused on trust, accountability and continuous professional development.

---

To read similar articles, check out our Leadership channel.