‘Our journey of improvement must continue’: Humberside Police recruiting new senior officers
STRIVING TO GET BETTER: Humberside Police Assistant Chief Constable David Marshall talking to The Hull Story. Pictures by Tom Arran Commercial Photography
By Rick Lyon
Humberside Police want “authentic independent thinkers” in senior officer roles to help continue its “transformational journey”.
The force is recruiting at Superintendent and Chief Superintendent level at a time when it is officially rated the best in all of England and Wales.
However, Assistant Chief Constable David Marshall said it is crucial anyone coming in shares its ambition for continued development, as there are still many areas in which it can improve.
“We want people who are authentic, who are genuinely passionate about delivering for the force and the people of this area,” he said.
“We want them to have that drive and enthusiasm, but they also have to be relatable and have a natural inquisition to understand what it is people want and need.
“As a force, we want people who are independent thinkers as well, who can stand back and look at how we can do things differently to deliver a better service.
“There are improvements to be made, so we want people who can challenge us and help us continue on this journey we’re on.”
‘OUTSTANDING’ FORCE: Assistant Chief Constable David Marshall believes Humberside Police can still improve
Independent watchdog His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) graded Humberside as “outstanding” in six out of nine categories in a report published last November.
It is the highest number of “outstanding” grades received by any of the 43 police forces across England and Wales and represents a major turnaround for Humberside, after it was rated “inadequate” seven years ago and placed in special measures.
Humberside was also named Police Service of the Year 2023 at the national iESE Public Sector Transformation Awards last night. It is the second consecutive year it has won the award.
Mr Marshall, who joined from Norfolk Constabulary in February 2022, said he was attracted to join a force so committed to improving, and stressed anyone coming in now needs to understand there will be no easing up.
He told The Hull Story: “It’s fair to say that Humberside Police has quite an interesting recent past, and it’s well documented that, seven years ago, it was identified as failing and classed as the worst force in the country.
“Seeing its journey since then, from the outside looking in, I thought it was fascinating. When I looked at Humberside’s ambition and leadership, it just felt like it was a culture I wanted to be a part of.
“The transformation has been tremendous, but the journey isn’t over and there’s still a lot to do.
RECRUITING: Humberside Police are looking for new Superintendents and Chief Superintendents
“It’s a challenging place to work. Like every other police force, we have our difficult moments. We also have some really deprived areas, which presents its own challenges, but ultimately everyone wants the same thing – and that’s not just to improve policing, but to improve society as a whole.”
Humberside is recruiting Superintendents and Chief Superintendents. It will consider candidates for promotion and lateral transfers from other forces.
Candidates will have a session with a staff engagement panel, including representatives from across the force, during the selection process. It is, according to Mr Marshall, an example of how Humberside is working collectively to achieve its goals.
“All organisations are fundamentally driven by their people, and I have to say, I haven’t worked anywhere before that’s been as inclusive and welcoming as Humberside,” he said.
“Everyone wants to be positive, to improve and deliver an excellent service to the public, so anyone coming in from the outside must feel the same – we won’t accept anything else.”