Purpose
HM Chief Inspector (HMCI) is a role combining two separate Crown Appointments:
- Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary; and
- Her Majesty’s Chief Fire and Rescue Inspector for England.
Their purpose is to ensure the inspection of police forces and fire & rescue authorities, and report publicly on their efficiency and effectiveness.
Key responsibilities of the HMCI
HMCI is appointed under the Police Act 1996 and the Fire & Rescue Services Act 2004. The primary duties of the role include:
Complying with the statutory duties of the HM Chief Inspector:
- Prepare, and submit to the Secretary of State, an inspection programme and framework to facilitate the inspection of the efficiency and effectiveness of all police forces in England and Wales, all fire & rescue authorities in England, other bodies set out in legislation, and broader or thematic inspections;
- Submit to the Secretary of State annual reports on the carrying out of inspections and lay the reports in Parliament;
- Sit on disciplinary panels in respect of senior officers accused of misconduct or gross misconduct, or nominating another HMI to do so;
- Discharge functions as the principal body considering and investigating super-complaints under the Police Reform Act 2002;
- Discharge functions in respect of the compulsory retirement or removal of chief constables by local policing bodies, as required by section 38, Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011;
- Carry out other duties for the purpose of furthering efficiency and effectiveness of police forces and fire & rescue authorities as directed by the Secretary of State; and
- Participating in other duties of an HM Inspector as required.
Leading HMICFRS as its most senior appointee:
- Lead HMICFRS in line with the Seven Principles of public life and the principles set out in the Cabinet Office Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies 2019;
- Chairing the HMICFRS Board, the collective decision-making mechanism for the leadership of the Inspectorate;
- Working in tandem with the Chief Operating Officer (COO) to oversee organisational governance, ensuring the Inspectorate is operating effectively, demonstrates best practice and with appropriate transparency;
- Alongside the COO, lead HMICFRS organisational transformation;
- Supporting the COO, who leads the day to day running of the organisation including the delegated finances, operational risks and overseeing HMICFRS’s operational programme of inspections;
- Implementing a future focussed approach to the organisation’s work – identifying key trends and future likely risks to policing and fire & rescue services;
- Undertaking cross-cutting work with the Criminal Justice Joint Inspection programme, to effect strategic and substantive change across the criminal justice landscape;
- Raising the profile and media presence of HMICFRS to improve the public’s understanding of the organisation and what they do;
- Protecting the integrity and independence of HMICFRS, championing the Inspectorate with government (central and local), the forces and authorities being inspected, Parliament and others;
- Sitting as a member of the National Policing Board;
- Allocating to individual HMIs their regional responsibilities and the national and thematic inspections for which they will be responsible;
- Undertaking the annual performance appraisals of the other Crown-appointed HM Inspectors and supporting their professional development; and
- Supporting the COO in their own appraisal and professional development.
Acting as the senior spokesperson and visible leader for HMICFRS:
- Setting the strategic direction of the organisation, overseeing the publication of inspection reports and representing these reports publicly and in the media as required;
- Being a credible independent voice, briefing Ministers, giving evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees and replying to policy and Parliamentary consultations as appropriate, drawing on evidence gathered during HMICFRS inspections;
- Collaborating with external stakeholders, maintaining professional relationships with sector stakeholders including the NPCC, NFCC, IOPC, College of Policing and other inspectorates and regulators.