The PSNI have a new Vision, a 5 year strategic plan and are subject to a new HMIC inspection report. In this blog I summarise key highlights and share a free preview of my latest deep-dive podcast into this strategic world of PSNI.
I explain what all this means for you as a leader and pull out key points relevant to your preparation for promotion in the ‘annual promotion competition’. Though the subject is PSNI, this is relevant to all UK officers (and beyond), because the parallels in leadership skills and behaviours I draw out will support your ambitions too. And if you’re going for the more strategic ranks of Inspector and above, this is an episode you definitely won’t want to miss!
Every Leader is a Reader
“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” – Harry S. Truman
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) recently received an HMIC inspection publication into their effectiveness and efficiency. This inspired me to run through and summarise this report for you, along with other strategic information for PSNI, aiding leaders and promotion candidates at all levels.
Are you keeping abreast of important reports coming out in policing? As an aspiring leader, reading is essential for your career.
Fear not, following Rank Success you’ll get all the highlights and be in touch with the zeitgeist relevant to your leadership. I summarise an array of key policing reports for you across my blogs and podcasts (e.g. Episode 5.3 above). As another example, I blogged just last week about the new Anti-Racism Commitment in England and Wales, and its ramifications for UK policing.
Another such report that caught my attention recently is a review of effectiveness and efficiency from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS, aka HMIC). The HM Inspector here is Lee Freeman KPM, former Chief Constable of Humberside. Lee was one of my early and most popular podcast interviewees, when he kindly joined me for a chat to talk about change, leadership and promotion in 2022.
PSNI operates in a unique political and social context to other UK forces and as such, HMIC have adapted their usual inspection regime to this force. There are many important findings in their report if you’re an aspiring officer in PSNI. Especially if you’re looking to develop your leadership skills and build a better future for your team and the force.
This HMIC inspection had terms of reference to inspect and report on:
- How good is the service at preventing and detecting crime and ASB?
- How good is the service at managing offenders and suspects?
The job of any Chief Constable is to deliver an effective and efficient police service. Starting with some broad context, here’s how PSNI explain their overarching vision, purpose, and strategic priorities.
PSNI clearly has a range of challenges ahead, particularly the well-documented strains upon its finances and warnings about officer strength. Succumbing to the doom and gloom is easy. But as I allude to in this brand new podcast, this isn’t where leaders should be operating. You’ll need to have a different approach and be able to convey that in your promotion board. Listen in to understand some areas where you can have a positive impact against the various recommendations and areas for improvement.
Included in this episode I also signpost you to the PSNI’s new five year policing plan. Along the way, I’ll help you recognise evidence and identify where you can contribute to objectives as a leader and police promotion candidate. The 2025-2030 PSNI plan sets out three main objectives as summarised below:
- PSNI is victim focused
- We have safe and engaged communities with confidence in policing
- PSNI has a representative, valued and enabled workforce
Leading the Competition…
“Competition exists to choose who gets the prize when the prize can’t be shared.” – Andrew Harvey
As I’ve emphasised before, police promotion is a competition. I like how PSNI are uniquely open about that, setting aspiring officers’ expectations by calling their process the annual “promotion competition”. PSNI is not just different in its political and social context compared to other UK forces. Promotion candidates for Sergeant and Inspector rank also must pass their promotion exam and board consecutively.
However, as with other UK forces, it seems the vast majority of aspiring individuals only tend to start seriously preparing for their force’s promotion competition once it is announced. That’s understandable from one perspective, the job is tough, arguably more so than ever before. Indeed it’s entirely possible to achieve promotion in this reactive way with some smart, hard work.
But the need for leadership roles to deliver an effective and efficient public service prevails. Standards for selection processes rightly remain high, albeit they differ across forces. And so it’s those individuals allowing themselves plenty of time to prepare for their opportunity who most often prevail in these highly competitive promotion selection processes.
That’s valuable time to absorb new information, content, ideas, thoughts and perspectives. As an example I cover in this podcast, Sergeants are expected to demonstrate more ‘strategic awareness’ when assessed for promotion to Inspector.
“I bought your mega bundle and found out I’d passed the Inspector process. 41 successful candidates out of 215. I found your material invaluable, your Masterclass was just what I needed to get my interview structure spot on.” – Neata
As a police promotion coach and mentor, successfully supporting cops with career progression for over a decade, I agree wholeheartedly with the quote oft attributed to Benjamin Franklin:
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
When you are in tune with reports and developments like this HMIC inspection, new strategies, and so on, you will be leading the competition. I know this because it works, including for many PSNI promotion candidates I’ve supported this year alone.
It also helps you anticipate and prepare for potential interview questions and presentation scenarios, for which I provide several examples within this new premium podcast.
Tune In to Tune Out the Noise…
“Bet on yourself. Tune out the noise.” – Dr Julie Gurner
To learn more, I encourage you to listen to this in-depth 90 minute podcast. As with many of my episodes, it’s worth the £4.99 subscription alone. As a premium subscriber, you’ll also get dozens more hours of premium content. Many successful promotion candidates have found this content invaluable to supporting their ongoing leadership CPD, while keeping in touch with what’s important in policing around a busy day job, as this officer emailed me recently:
“Hi Steve hope you’re well. I bought the application stage product and am a monthly subscriber listening to your wonderful podcasts. Can I say thank you for all you continue to do for officers. The knowledge, encouragement, guidance and straight talking is a god send. Very much appreciated, whether you are going for promotion or not. We love the job and it keeps us going providing invaluable CPD and support.”
In the podcast, I also bring the subject matter and issues back to you as an aspiring leader. I make links to some key role functions and performance expectations of you as a Sergeant, Inspector and Chief Inspector. Ultimately, the real value of summarising inspection reports like this is to support, challenge and respectfully provoke your thinking. Then on the day, you’ll be ready for any promotion interview question or presentation scenario.
I hope you enjoy the episode and wherever you’re based, I wish you every success in your aspiration.
Kind Regards, Steve
Seeking police promotion? Want a MASSIVE head start right now? Hit the ground running with your personal digital promotion toolkit, and/or my market-leading Police Promotion Masterclass and CVF explainers. There’s nothing else like it to effectively prepare you for success in your leadership aspirations. You can also contact me to arrange more personal coaching support. Or try my podcast for your ongoing police leadership CPD covering a range of fascinating subjects.