Government review urges overhaul of UK police leadership

A major government-backed review has called for a fundamental overhaul of police leadership in England and Wales, urging forces to abandon political and cultural distractions and refocus on their core mission of fighting crime. The report, published on Monday, July 6, 2026, delivers a stark critique of systemic failures, including corrupt leadership, cronyism, and low morale.

Co-authored by former Labour Home Secretary Lord David Blunkett and former Conservative policing minister Lord Nick Herbert, the review was commissioned by the College of Policing with Home Office backing. It concludes that police leaders must be "resolute in refusing to take sides" in political or cultural debates and concentrate entirely on crime prevention, detection, and prosecution. The report warns against "preferencing certain groups," stating that the background or identity of any victim or perpetrator should have no bearing on their treatment by police.

The findings intensify an ongoing national debate over allegations of "two-tier policing," where police are accused of applying inconsistent standards based on a person's background. The report states that policing by consent depends on officers...