PCC Letter on Proposed National Police Service Appointment
Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has written to Policing Minister Sarah Jones MP to express concerns about the proposed appointment of a Commissioner Designate for the National Police Service.
You can read the PCC's letter below.
Dear Sarah Jones MP.
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the proposed appointment of a Commissioner Designate for the National Police Service ahead of the establishment of the National Police Service Board.
I recognise the importance of appointing effective leadership for the National Police Service at an early stage. However, throughout my time as Police and Crime Commissioner I have consistently argued that strong leadership must be matched by strong accountability. The public rightly expect those exercising significant powers to be subject to robust governance from the outset.
Bringing the Commissioner Designate into post many months before the Board is established creates the impression that governance and democratic accountability are secondary considerations. For years, I have argued for a return to the Peelian principles and for stronger, more accountable leadership.
This move would be the antithesis of those principles. If we are serious about rebuilding public trust in policing, then leadership and oversight of the National Police Service should be established together. It is difficult to see how these arrangements can operate effectively if one is established significantly before the other.
I would therefore echo the concerns of my Police and Crime Commissioner colleagues across England and Wales, and urge the Government to ensure that the governance framework for the National Police Service is put in place alongside the appointment of its leadership.
This will provide the strongest possible foundations for success and maintaining public confidence in the new organisation. I also urge the Government to consider appointing a Commissioner Designate with expertise from outside of policing, to broaden the talent pool and bring fresh perspectives.
Yours sincerely
Rupert Matthews Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
PCC News - 9th September 2026
