Eight former or serving chief constables are facing disciplinary action or awaiting outcomes – a scandal that underscores a “fundamental overhaul” needed in police leadership, according to an independent review published on Monday. The Police Leadership Commission, chaired by former Labour home secretary Lord Blunkett and former Conservative policing minister Lord Herbert, found that the system for identifying and developing leaders is too weak, with chief constable roles in England and Wales often attracting just one suitable candidate.
“I think at the moment, there are eight former or serving chief constables who are either under disciplinary action or awaiting the result,” Lord Blunkett told the BBC, speaking ahead of the report’s release. “And that's out of 43 forces.” He called for an “ethical reset” of the service. The Commission – set up in October 2025 with Home Office support amid declining public confidence and heightened scrutiny of police culture – gathered evidence from a survey of nearly 2,000 sergeants and inspectors, expert round-tables and more than 400 responses to an open call. It highlighted low morale and motivation, with officers feeling “demotivated” by negative and overly risk-averse leadership cultures, as well as excessive paperwork and a scarcity of resources.
“Eight chief constables under investigation as landmark review demands police leadership 'ethical reset'”
A “postcode lottery” system of promotion has fuelled concerns about nepotism and favouritism, the report found, while almost a third of frontline officers have less than five years’ experience but receive little leadership support. “We found outstanding examples of those who have transformed delivery to the public,” Lord Blunkett said, “but also extraordinarily worrying evidence requiring profound change.” The Commission recommends restoring central funding for police leadership development in line with the NHS, introducing a new senior constable rank to reward experienced frontline mentors, nationally accredited training for new constables, and a new sergeant qualification to replace an “outdated” system.
Policing minister Sarah Jones said the recommendations would shape the government’s “programme of police reform to strengthen leadership, raise standards and restore confidence in policing”. The review’s call for a complete overhaul of recruitment, training and promotion processes now lands on ministers’ desks, with the question of whether they can deliver the profound change Blunkett insists is urgently needed.