New NPCC Chair sets out listening to communities as key priority as he steps into role

The NPCC brings UK police leaders together to set direction in policing and drive progress for the public.  It does this through:

• Coordination – joining up the operational response to critical national policing issues to deliver policing today and shape the future.
• Collaboration – working in partnership as part of the whole policing system and beyond to improve public safety.
• Communication – sharing the collective expertise, views and action of UK police chiefs.

Gavin joins the NPCC following four years as Chief Constable at Surrey Police. He joined the force in 1996 and since that time has served at every rank and across a wide range of areas including serious and organised crime, professional standards, and neighbourhood policing.  

Nationally, Gavin has played a major role in developing neighbourhood policing, using his knowledge and experience from Surrey to inform the national approach. 

New NPCC Chair, Gavin Stephens, said:

“I have always been incredibly proud to be a police officer and I am equally proud to be stepping into the role of NPCC Chair, particularly at such a key time in policing history.

“Our challenge around rebuilding trust and confidence cannot be underestimated. We must aspire to and achieve the very highest professional standards, rooting out the behaviours that do not belong in policing.  We must also be highly effective at crime prevention and investigation to be relevant to our communities.

“We need to be positive and proactive in our police work, really listening to the concerns of our communities, addressing them and then openly reporting back on what we have done.

“It’s my firm belief that those who trust policing the least should have the most opportunity to influence how we work.  I want to see this reflected in our work on the Police Race Action Plan and in our collective efforts to tackle male violence against women and girls.

“I’m in awe of what my police officer, staff and volunteer colleagues achieve every day despite the often difficult circumstances they are working in and I have a great love for policing.  I look forward to leading the National Police Chiefs’ Council in supporting UK policing to provide outstanding services to their communities.”

Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) Chair, Marc Jones, said:

“On behalf of all Police and Crime Commissioners, I want to welcome Gavin in his new role as Chair of the NPCC.

“This is a pivotal time for policing and while there will be issues we need to tackle, I am confident that we can collaborate effectively with Gavin and the NPCC to build on the essential work to improve public confidence and deliver a service which meets the needs of the communities in which we serve.

“We look forward to working together.”