Panel Statement on Chief Constable Confirmation Hearing

On 9 December the West Midlands Police and Crime Panel held a confirmation hearing for the proposed reappointment of Craig Guildford as Chief Constable of West Midlands Police.

Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster asked the West Midlands Police and Crime Panel to confirm the reappointment of Mr Guildford, who left the force on 15 November 2024 under the national retire and rejoin scheme. 

At Monday’s public panel meeting (December 9) Mr Foster told the Panel: “I consider it to be in the best interests of West Midlands Police to retain the services of a proven leader with experience, integrity and professionalism, who is committed to delivering an effective and efficient policing service to the people and communities of the West Midlands.” 

The Panel has a statutory duty to conduct a public confirmation hearing to review proposed appointments made by the Commissioner, including that of the Chief Constable, and request the candidate appear for the purposes of answering questions.  It must also make a report to the Commissioner on whether it supports the proposal or not. 

At the hearing Panel members received clarification from the Commissioner that his proposal to reappoint was based on the national retire and rehire scheme.  Panel members also posed a range of questions to Mr Guildford seeking to assess his professional competence and professional independence for the role. Mr Guildford responded to questions on local policing priorities, the new neighbourhood policing model, improving public confidence in policing, managing resources, working with partners and reviewing standards of behaviour and internal culture within the Force. 

Following the hearing, the Panel endorsed  the Commissioner’s recommendation to reappoint Mr Guildford as West Midlands Police’s Chief Constable for a further period until December 2028. 

The Panel Chair Councillor Jasbir Jaspal wrote to the Commissioner to advise that: “Having considered the information provided and responses given by Mr Guildford to members’ questions during the hearing, that Panel was satisfied that Mr Guildford demonstrated his professional competence and personal independence for the role. The Panel endorses  the Commissioner’s recommendation to proceed with the appointment of Mr Guildford as Chief Constable of West Midlands Police.”

A copy of the Panel report has been published on the Panel’s website and the minutes of the meeting will be available in due course.
 

Notes to editors: 
The Panel is an independent body whose role is to support and scrutinise the actions and decisions of Simon Foster, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner. It is made up of councillors from Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton plus three independent members. It meets throughout the year at venues across the West Midlands.

The next meeting of the West Midlands Police and Crime Panel will be held on Monday 20 January 2025 where members will review the Police and Crime Commissioner’s draft Police and Crime Plan. The Plan sets out the Commissioner’s key priorities and objectives for policing and crime in the region for his term of office.

Members of the public are encouraged to submit written questions to the Panel to enable it to challenge the Commissioner on issues residents feel are important. Written questions to the Panel must be submitted 1 week before each meeting and can be sent by email: wmpcp@birmingham.gov.uk 

Learn out more about the role of the Panel, find your local representative and download meeting papers by visiting www.westmidlandspcp.org.uk or follow the Panel on X @WestMidsPCP.