Lord David Blunkett has declared the police service in England and Wales is "not good enough" and requires an "ethical reset" in leadership, following a major report co-authored by the former Labour Home Secretary. The Police Leadership Commission, which will publish its findings on Monday, has identified significant weaknesses in leadership, morale, and culture across the service, calling for a "fundamental overhaul."
Call for Root-and-Branch Modernisation
The report, produced alongside former Conservative policing minister Lord Herbert for the College of Policing, demands a "root and branch modernisation" of recruitment, development, and monitoring within the police service. Lord Blunkett told the BBC: "At the moment, the service isn't good enough. At the moment, the morale and motivation of many of those working in the service needs a reset."
In an article for the Mail on Sunday, Lord Blunkett elaborated: "Supported by the Home Office, the independent Police Leadership Commission has concluded we need a root-and-branch overhaul of recruitment, training, appraisal and promotion. And that nowhere do we need more radical change than at the very top." He added: "It is at the very highest level in policing that we’ve found the most troubling evidence of failure, particularly when it comes to promotions. I don’t use the word ‘nepotism’ lightly because it implies deep seated preferential treatment for those close to the senior officers making the decisions. But I’m afraid it’s true."
Weaknesses in Frontline Support and Promotion Systems
The Commission highlights a lack of leadership support for frontline officers, noting that almost a third of the service has less than five years' service. It also criticises a postcode lottery system of promotion, with some officers raising concerns around perceptions of fairness, nepotism, and favouritism regarding temporary promotions and other stepping stones. The report notes a "narrow talent pool" at the top of policing, where chief constable roles regularly attract only a single suitable candidate.
The review describes a collective failure by both policing and successive governments to invest sufficient time, resources, and attention to police leadership development over decades. It demands that central funding be restored in line with other public services such as the military and NHS.
Recommendations for Reform
Among its recommendations, the Commission calls for reformed recruitment and nationally accredited training for all new constables, as well as a new senior constable rank to reward and recognise experienced frontline officers who provide leadership and standards. It also proposes a National Academy of Police Leadership to provide consistent, high-quality development across forces and support a stronger candidate pipeline.
Lord Herbert said: "If policing is to rebuild public trust, raise standards and meet the challenges of the future, leadership must now become a priority, properly funded, consistently developed and treated as a core operational capability. The reforms we set out are intended to support frontline officers and reset police leadership culture towards high performance around what matters most: cutting crime and keeping people safe."
