PCC/D/2025/05
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Section 38 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (the Act) provides that a Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) must appoint a person to be the chief constable of the police force for the area.
Following a thorough and robust recruitment process, the PCC selected Richard Cooper as his preferred candidate for the substantive position (decision notice PCC/D/2025/04 refers).
The proposed appointment was notified to the Police and Crime Panel who met on 19th March 2025 and unanimously confirmed Richard Cooper into the position.
Having completed all other necessary pre-employment processes, it is proposed that the appointment is now confirmed, and that the new Chief Constable commence in post on a substantive basis from 31st March 2025.
PROPOSAL
It is proposed that the Police and Crime Commissioner approve and confirm the appointment of Richard Cooper as Chief Constable of West Mercia Police
APPROVAL OF West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner
I hereby approve the above proposal.
PART 1 – NON-CONFIDENTIAL/EXEMPT FACTS AND FIGURES
SUPPORTING REPORT
Section 38 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (the Act) provides that a Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) must appoint a person to be the chief constable of the police force for the area.
Following a thorough and robust recruitment process, the PCC selected Richard Cooper as his preferred candidate for the substantive position (decision notice PCC/D/2025/04 refers).
The proposed appointment was notified to the Police and Crime Panel who met on 19th March 2025 for a confirmation hearing. The information required by law for this process was supplied to the panel, including:
– The name of the person proposed for appointment;
– The criteria used to assess the suitability of the candidate for the appointment;
– Why the candidate satisfied those criteria; and
– The terms and conditions on which the candidate is to be appointed.
The panel was satisfied in respect of the recruitment process and Richard Cooper as preferred candidate for the Chief Constable position and unanimously confirmed him into the post.
All other necessary pre-employment processes have been completed satisfactorily. The PCC is therefore able to confirm and approve the appointment of Richard Cooper as the new substantive Chief Constable of West Mercia Police, with the intent of that taking effect from 31st March 2025.
STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS
This decision supports the following element(s) of the West Mercia Safer Communities Plan:
☒ Cutting Crime
☒ Policing with the Community
☒ Supporting Victims & Witnesses
☒ Maximising Resources & Value for Money
The decision supports this/ these objective(s) through the following:
- Ensures compliance with PCC statutory requirement
- Supports delivery of all core elements of the PCC’s plan through effective leadership of West Mercia Police
AUTHOR
Gareth Boulton
19th March 2025
TREASURER COMMENTS
The appointment is in line with national agreed payscales and within allocated budgets.
20th March 2025
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
Date 20th March 2025
