Lord Blunkett calls for ethical reset of police leadership
Lord Blunkett has called for an "ethical reset" of police leadership in England and Wales, warning the service is "not good enough" ahead of a major College of Policing report he co-authored with Lord Herbert. The former Labour home secretary told the BBC the review found weak morale, culture and leadership across the force.
Speaking exclusively ahead of Monday's publication, Lord Blunkett said the Police Leadership Commission review points to "significant causes for concern" and demands a "fundamental overhaul" of how senior officers are recruited, developed and held to account. His intervention lands as public confidence in policing continues to slide.
Key Takeaways
- Lord Blunkett told the BBC that police leadership needs an ethical reset because the service is falling short on standards and motivation.
- A College of Policing report co-authored with Lord Herbert will recommend root-and-branch modernisation of recruitment, development and monitoring.
- None of England and Wales's 43 forces earned an "outstanding" leadership grade in the latest inspection round.
- Eight former or serving chief constables are under disciplinary action or awaiting results, according to Lord Blunkett.
- The review also flags resource pressure, paperwork and risk-averse leadership cultures that demotivate frontline officers.
Why did Lord Blunkett call for an ethical reset?
On the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Lord Blunkett said evidence gathered by the commission showed too many senior figures had been, or still were, under investigation. He cited eight former or serving chief constables facing disciplinary processes out of 43 forces.
"All of that leads us to believe that a new ethical reset is required," he said. He added that morale and motivation among many officers also need a reset, not only at the top.
What will the Police Leadership Commission report recommend?
The report, produced for the College of Policing, is expected to call for a "root and branch modernisation" of recruitment, development and monitoring within the service. Lord Blunkett and Lord Herbert co-chaired the independent commission behind the review.
According to reporting on the findings, the overhaul is designed to rebuild trust in how leaders are selected and supervised. The commission's work is among the most comprehensive recent examinations of UK law-enforcement leadership.
How bad is police leadership across England and Wales?
Inspection data cited by the BBC shows none of the 43 police forces in England and Wales were graded "outstanding" for leadership in the most recent round. Almost a third were rated as needing improvement, and two were judged inadequate.
The report will also highlight scarce resources, excessive paperwork and leadership cultures described as negative and overly risk averse. Lord Blunkett told the BBC those pressures leave many officers demotivated even as demands on policing grow.
Does the report take sides in policing culture debates?
Addressing concerns about perceived "two-tier policing," Lord Blunkett said the report does not endorse culture wars or political agendas. He stressed that policing's core role is delivering impartial service to the public.
For readers tracking governance and institutional trust stories, see more in our Fintech & Crypto Alerts coverage. Full details are in the BBC's report on Lord Blunkett's comments.