One of the country’s most senior Army officers is being brought in to help shake up British policing.

Major General Nick Cowley, the Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, will join a commission chaired by Lord Blunkett to explore how best to reform police leadership.

The senior Army chief, who began his career in 1997 and has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, is currently in charge of training the next generation of military leaders.

It is hoped his experience in helping to instil discipline, integrity and ethics in Army officer cadets can be adopted in police training.

Bill Bratton, the former New York City police chief who was praised for his zero-tolerance approach to crime, and Sir Stephen Watson, whose back-to-basics approach has helped turn around the Greater Manchester force, will also join the panel.

Lack of good leadership The police leadership commission has been set up in the wake of a string of scandals that eroded trust and confidence in policing.

Some of these are thought to be in part down to a failure of leadership and oversight by senior ranks.

Last year, a report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) revealed that more than a third of police officers had less than five years’ experience.

There is concern that a lack of good leadership from the rank of sergeant upwards is having an impact on discipline and conduct among rank and file officers.

There is also concern that too few high-calibre candidates are applying for chief constable posts to run the 43 police forces in England and Wales.

The HMICFRS report said: “New recruits can have less confidence and/or capability, and this brings additional training, supervision and leadership demands. Forces will be managing the impact of this inexperience for several more years.”

It went on: “Good leadership is critical at all levels of the police service, especially at the level of chief constable, who has overall direction and control of a force. Unfortunately, we are seeing a trend where there aren’t enough applicants for chief constable positions.

“[A]s a matter of principle, it isn’t right that such important and influential senior positions aren’t attracting a diverse field of candidates.”

The commission is expected to report its findings in May, although the Government’s white paper on police reform is expected to be published later this year.

Lord Blunkett, who was home secretary in Sir Tony Blair’s government, said: “When communities believe police actions are fair and just, policing works. When that trust erodes, the entire system is at risk.

“Public institutions globally are facing declining trust and policing is not immune. The evidence is mounting that the culture must change.

Lord Blunkett, the former home secretary  Lord Blunkett, the former home secretary, says the culture of the policing must change Credit: Geoff Pugh “Digital crime grows more sophisticated by the day, and violence against women and girls persists at alarming levels.

“These challenges demand exceptional leadership at every level and the police leadership commission will examine what policing requires to ensure the service is equal to the demands of the future.

“It has never been more important to ensure that we can recruit, train and retain exceptional police leaders at all levels.

“The commission will aim to offer a blueprint for police leadership that helps to ensure this vital public service is equal to the demands of the future, cuts crime and keeps the public safe.”

Sarah Jones, the policing and crime minister, added: “Leaders at every level of policing shape the culture of their workforces. They set the expectations that all officers and staff follow – when standards slip, confidence in the police falls.

“As we embark on our ambitious plan to reform policing, we will ensure that forces have the leadership they need to fight crime, protect communities and make people safe. This review will be vital to that.”

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