NPCC gets new board

The board will have three independent non-executives, three Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), a representative each from the Chief Police Staff Officers’ Association and the Home Office, and the executive chair of the NPCC.

The board’s members are:

Chair: Deep Sagar (independent non-executive): Deep Sagar’s main career was as a senior manager in private-sector multinational companies like Coca-Cola. He has more recently been chair, vice-chair or non-executive director of many public bodies. Among those are roles as chair of Hertfordshire Probation and the South-west Reducing Reoffending Partnership and member of the Parole Board.

Members: Nora Nanayakkara (independent non-executive): Nora is currently a non-executive director of the Intellectual Property Office, sitting on their audit and transformational change committees, a (Senior Independent) Trustee (and Chair of Audit & Governance) at Nominet Trust, the UK's leading social tech funder and an independent member of Epping Forest District Council's Audit and Risk Committee. Prior to this, she has a track record working in the world of digital service delivery as a consultant, advisor and as a non-executive director of Nominet.

Simone Pennie (independent non-executive): Simone is an accomplished finance professional who has been operating at board level for ten years. Her expertise has crossed private, public and voluntary sectors, including Audit Committee memberships for Ofcom and the University of Bath and a non-executive directorship for Wye Valley NHS Trust. Prior to this, she was Finance Director of BBC World News. Simone is also a graduate of Oxford Brooke's, qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG and governor of Westonbirt Schools in Gloucestershire.

Matthew Ellis (PCC Staffordshire): Matthew started out as the owner of a successful retail business, which he sold at the age of 37, freeing up time for other opportunities. He served as a Conservative member on Staffordshire County Council, relinquishing this role before running for election as Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire. He has dedicated himself to efficient spending, transparency in policing, criminal justice and community services and strengthening collaboration across public services.

Alun Michael (PCC South Wales): Having started out as a journalist, Alun entered Labour politics and was elected to the House of Commons in 1987, retaining his seat until his resignation in 2012 upon his election as PCC for South Wales. During his time in the Commons, he served in a variety of ministerial positions, including Secretary of State for Wales and, thereafter, Leader of Welsh Labour and the first First Secretary (now First Minister) of Wales.

Martyn Underhill (PCC Dorset): The holder of a Masters Degree and Diploma in Criminology, Martyn was elected PCC for Dorset in 2012 following 30 years’ service in the police service, retiring from Sussex Police as a DCI in 2009. He serves as Chair of the Police and Crime Commissioners’ Mental Health and Partnership Working Parties, and was a PCC representative on the review of ACPO and the ACPO Transition Board which worked towards the formation of the NPCC.

Mark Polin (CPOSA representative): Chief Constable Mark Polin started his policing career with City of London Police in 1983, serving with them until 1998, rounding off his time there as a Chief Inspector with responsibility for policing and security at the Central Criminal Court and other high-profile locations in the force area. He went on to appointments in Gwent, eventually heading up their Professional Standards Department, and went on to serve as Deputy Chief Constable of Gloucestershire before moving to head up North Wales Police in 2009. He is the Chairman of the Chief Police Officers’ Staff Association.

Ziggy MacDonald (Home Office representative): Formerly a senior lecturer in economics at the University of Leicestershire with a particular interest in the economics of crime,Ziggy MacDonald is currently Director of Finance and Strategy in the Home Office Crime and Policing Group where he has responsibility for, among other topics, police resources and efficiency. He joined the Home Office in September 2002 as an Economic Adviser and has worked in a number of analytical/research roles, several policy roles and more recently in the finance area as Head of Group Finance Unit, prior to taking up his current Director post in December 2012.

Sara Thornton (NPCC executive chair): Sara commenced her policing career with the Metropolitan Police in 1986 and served between operational postings in West London and strategic work in New Scotland Yard until her move to Thames Valley Police in late 2000 as Assistant Chief Constable for Specialist Operations. She moved up the chief officer ranks until her appointment as Acting Chief Constable in 2006, and stayed in post until her appointment as the first Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council on April 1, 2015. A keen sailor in her spare time, she lives in Oxford and has two sons.

Welcoming Mr Sagar to his new post, NPCC Chair Chief Constable Sara Thornton said:

“I look forward very much to working with the board. As the NPCC seeks to set its goals and reach its objectives, it needs critical friends like the members of this board to make sure that we are on track and operating at our most efficient and in a manner that can command and maintain public confidence. I welcome the members to their posts.”

Chair of the Audit and Assurance Board, Deep Sagar, said:

“I am very pleased to be chairing this board, which will help the National Police Chiefs’ Council achieve its aims and objectives through the rigorous scrutiny, accountability and transparency that both the service and the public deserve.”

The board will meet every three months. Its progress including meeting minutes will be published here on the NPCC website. It can be contacted by emailing info@npcc.pnn.police.uk or calling 020 7084 8950.