Ref: PCC/D/2024/10
Executive Summary:
Section 38 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 requires the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to appoint a Chief Constable to lead the police force.
The current Temporary Chief Constable Alex Murray has notified the Commissioner of his intent to leave the role in order to become Director of the National Crime Agency. It has been agreed he will leave West Mercia Police’s employment on 15th September 2024.
Recruitment for the substantive Chief Constable role will commence later in the year. It is necessary to appoint a new Chief Constable on a temporary basis to the role, pending the outcome of the substantive recruitment process.
Having considered a range of options, the PCC wishes to appoint West Mercia Police’s Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Richard Cooper as Temporary Chief Constable, effective from August 2024.
Proposal:
It is proposed that the Police and Crime Commissioner appoint Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Richard Cooper as Temporary Chief Constable of West Mercia Police, effective from 29th August 2024.
Approval Of:
West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner
I hereby approve the above proposals.
Signed: John Campion.
Part 1 – Non-Confidential/Exempt Facts and Figures
Supporting Report
Section 38 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 requires the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to appoint a Chief Constable to lead the police force.
The current Temporary Chief Constable Alex Murray has notified the Commissioner of his intent to leave the role in order to become Director of the National Crime Agency. It has been agreed he will leave West Mercia Police’s employment on 15th September 2024.
Recruitment for the substantive Chief Constable role is expected to commence later in the year. It is therefore necessary to appoint a new Chief Constable on a temporary basis.
In order to be considered for the role of Chief Constable a person must have held a role as a police officer, and held a rank of at least Assistant Chief Constable or Commander.
Options were presented to the PCC around the temporary position. The PCC determined that continuity of leadership and stability were key considerations to the appointment, from both a public and policing perspective. The opportunity was therefore made available via expressions of interest to a range of candidates internally and externally, including all eligible chief officers within West Mercia Police. The Commissioner held conversations with three candidates. The process was managed and overseen by the PCC’s Chief Executive & Monitoring Officer.
Having considered the available options, the PCC wishes to appoint West Mercia Police’s Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Richard Cooper as Temporary Chief Constable, with full operational command of the police force effective from midday on Thursday 29th August 2024. The end date of the appointment will be dependent on the outcome of the substantive Chief Constable recruitment. This temporary appointment does not require confirmation by West Mercia Police and Crime Panel.
Strategic Considerations:
This decision supports the following element(s) of the Safer West Mercia Plan:
Putting victims and survivors of crime first.
Reforming West Mercia.
Building a more secure West Mercia.
Reassuring West Mercia’s communities.
The decision supports this/ these objective(s) through the following:
Ensures delivery against statutory PCC requirement.
Ensures continuity of delivery of effective and efficient policing for communities across West Mercia.
Ensures essential continuity of leadership for West Mercia Police.
Benefits And Their Realisation:
Continuity of service and stability of leadership pending substantive Chief Constable recruitment process.
Delivery of statutory requirement for PCC.
Author
Gareth Boulton – Chief Executive
Date: 09.07.2024
Financial and Treasurer Comments
Signed: Paul Benfield – Treasurer.
Date: 09.07.2024
Legal Considerations
By virtue of schedule 11, paragraph 14 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 the Police and Crime Commissioner may do anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of the functions of commissioner. That includes: entering into contracts and other agreements (whether legally binding or not) and acquiring and disposing of property (including land).
Public Access To Information
Information in this form is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI Act) and other legislation. Part 1 of this form will be made available on the West Mercia Commissioner’s website. Any facts and advice that should not be made automatically available on request are not included in Part 1 but instead in a separate Part 2 report.
Officer Approval
Chief Executive Officer
Gareth Boulton
Date: 09.07.2024
