Surrey Chief Constable Gavin Stephens has been elected as the Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). He will take up his post in April 2023 taking over from Chair Martin Hewitt QPM who will leave step down in March 2023 after serving a four-year term.
The NPCC brings forces across the UK together to coordinate, reform, and improve policing. Chief constables were invited to apply for the post of Chair of the NPCC in October. CC Stephens applied for the post and, in accordance with election rules, has been appointed.
Nationally, CC Stephens has played a major role in developing neighbourhood policing, using his knowledge and experience from Surrey to inform the approach, resulting in outstanding gradings for preventing crime and anti-social behaviour, and the receipt of national awards for problem solving. He is currently the Chair of the NPCC Finance Coordination Committee, as well as the national Communications Advisory Group.
Commenting on the announcement of his new role CC Stephens said, “I feel very honoured to have been elected the next Chair for the NPCC. I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues and leading the organisation to build on the fantastic work they’ve done so far in improving policing and keeping our communities safe. I am as excited about and motivated by policing today, as I was as a new recruit.”
NPCC Chair Martin Hewitt added, “I’m delighted that Gavin will be the new Chair of the NPCC from April 2023. He is an exceptional chief, who brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience and I have no doubt that he will bring that to bear as he leads the NPCC in the important role that it will continue to play in the coming years.”
CC Stephens joined Surrey Police in 1996 and since that time has served at every rank and across a wide range of areas including Serious and Organised Crime, Professional Standards, and Neighbourhood Policing. He became Chief Constable in April 2019.
