Latest news with #RobCarden
BBC News
13-05-2025
- BBC News
New Merseyside police chief constable confirmed
The new chief constable for Merseyside Police has been confirmed as Rob Constable Carden, who is from Liverpool and is the current chief constable of Cumbria, will replace Serena Kennedy when she retires at the end of police and crime commissioner (PCC) Emily Spurrell announced two weeks ago that Mr Carden, who has more than 30 years of policing experience, was her preferred choice to take over the role. Mr Carden said it was "a genuine honour and privilege" to return to the organisation he first joined in 1992. The appointment has been approved by the region's Police and Crime Panel. Mr Carden, who is married with three sons, said he was "thrilled" to take on the role."My father served Merseyside Police for over 33 years and I was extremely proud to follow in his footsteps when I joined the organisation in 1992," he said."To now be returning to the organisation as chief constable and to lead the organisation which has been such a big part of my family is a genuine honour and privilege."Merseyside Police is already an outstanding organisation which is rightly recognised as one of the best police services in the country."I am committed to building on Serena's legacy and ensuring I lead a workforce which takes pride in delivering an excellent service to our communities, protecting those who are vulnerable, keeping our streets safe and ensuring offenders face justice." Commenting on the panel's endorsement, Ms Spurrell said Mr Carden "fully understands the unique challenges of policing our region and has the leadership experience and clear strategic thinking needed to maintain the exceptional reputation and standards of Merseyside Police and to drive the organisation forward".She said he had "exceptional experience, is very well respected in the policing community and has shown his ability to lead in some very challenging situations".Chief Constable Serena Kennedy KPM said she was "delighted" at the said Mr Carden was a "respected leader" who, as assistant chief constable, had managed the response to the Covid Kennedy added that he had been gold commander for "numerous events and incidents, including the terrorist incident at Liverpool Women's Hospital" in 2021."I know he is passionate about the force and providing the people of Merseyside with a first-class police service and I wish him every success for the future," she Carden will be appointed chief constable for a period of five years. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- BBC News
Merseyside Police Chief Constable job draws just one applicant
Merseyside Police top job draws just one applicant Emily Spurrell said she was "absolutely confident" in Rob Carden's abilities Merseyside Police only received one application for the top job of chief constable, the region's police and crime commissioner has said. Emily Spurrell has backed Cumbria's Chief Constable Rob Carden as her preferred candidate to replace Serena Kennedy, who is set to retire in August. She said it was not unusual to have a low number of applicants for the role as the pool of those qualified is small, but she said she was "absolutely confident" in Mr Carden's abilities. His appointment is set to be decided by a panel at a confirmation hearing next week.
The Guardian
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Two top job openings in UK policing get one applicant each
Two of the most senior jobs in British policing paying more than £200,000 a year have attracted only one applicant each, the Guardian has learned. The roles were deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan police and chief constable of Merseyside police, based in Liverpool. Senior figures in policing and in government are concerned about a lack of talent at the top of policing. Rob Carden, the chief of Cumbria, will become the new leader of the Merseyside force. While he was the only candidate to apply, he would have been a strong contender had he faced competition. Matt Jukes, a Met assistant commissioner and head of counter-terrorism, was the sole applicant to be deputy commissioner of the London force, replacing Lynne Owens, who is standing down. While the formal application process for the Met deputy commissionership is yet to be completed, senior sources say it is a virtual certainty that Jukes will get the job on a permanent basis. The post of Met deputy commissioner carries a salary of more than £250,000 a year and is an appointment by royal warrant. The home secretary makes the selection having given due regard to the views of London's mayor. Jukes is already earmarked to serve as interim deputy commissioner and would have been a strong candidate even if he had faced competition. Becoming Met deputy commissioner will make Jukes a favourite be the next commissioner of the Met whenever Mark Rowley stands down. His most likely rival for the top job in British policing is Stephen Watson, the chief constable of Greater Manchester police. Rowley's five-year contract is due to expire by September 2027. Jukes's interim promotion means Britain will get a new head of counter-terrorism, a role to be filled for at least six months by Vicki Evans. Previously, the head of counter-terrorism had always come from the Met, but Evans previously served in the Cambridgeshire force and before that the Dyfed-Powys force in Wales, before being appointed as senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism. If Jukes becomes deputy head of the Met on a permanent basis, the role of Britain's top counter-terrorism officer will be advertised. Also stepping up is Richard Smith, a Met officer, who becomes acting senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism. A key part of that role is declaring when an act of violence, such as last weekend's crossbow attack on two women in Leeds, is an act of terrorism. Andy Marsh, the head of the College of Policing, said the quality of the pool of chief officers had been left to deteriorate to such an extent that at one stage 'a third of chief officer jobs were occupied by temporary office holders'. Marsh said recent changes had trebled the numbers coming through, but improvements would take time. 'The supply chain of qualified officers for senior jobs was woefully weak. The reforms should dramatically improve that. I am concerned about the low number of applicants for all chief officer jobs,' he said. Another senior policing source said there was a 'dearth of talent' among police leaders, and in part the system of police and crime commissioners was one reason for that. PCCs are elected politicians who oversee forces, often with limited experience of policing. The source said: 'There's no checks and balances on who they choose.' A government source said it was boosting leadership training and standards and added: 'It's essential to have a quality talent pool at the top of policing.' The Merseyside chief constable is appointed by the area's police and crime commissioner and earns a salary of more than £200,000 a year. Carden has served most of his career in the Merseyside force and is expected to be confirmed as chief constable next week by the area's police and crime panel. Emily Spurrell, Merseyside's PCC, said: 'There was only one candidate who applied for the chief constable role. It is important to note that senior policing appointments of this nature often attract a limited number of applicants due to the role's complexity, public visibility and the high level of responsibility involved in policing a high-performing force. 'The preferred candidate met the eligibility and experience requirements and was subjected to a rigorous interview process. Ultimately, the integrity of the process and the suitability of the candidate are what matter most.' The careers of the current Met commissioner, Rowley, and his new deputy, Jukes, are strikingly similar. Both served as chief constables before the Met, with Jukes leading the South Wales force and Rowley the Surrey force. Both were seen as modernisers, with Jukes's force pioneering the use of facial recognition technology, both have served as head of counter-terrorism and both are originallyfrom the West Midlands.
BBC News
28-03-2025
- BBC News
Cumbria Police officer sent sexual messages on duty
A former police officer who sent "unwanted sexualised messages" to women on social media has been found guilty of gross Stewart, who was a constable for Cumbria Police, was found to have sent numerous women unsolicited, sexually explicit messages while on duty through apps including Tinder and WhatsApp, an accelerated misconduct hearing Stewart's conduct was found to breach the force's standards of professional behaviour, amounting to gross misconduct, and would have been dismissed if he was still Constable Rob Carden said Mr Stewart's behaviour "brings discredit to the police". Mr Stewart began working for the force in September 2018 and was an officer in North Cumbria and Carlisle. His last day was in June 2024. "The former officer's behaviour in sending sexually explicit messages which were not requested and, on occasion, were sent while on duty, was unacceptable and amounted to discreditable conduct," Mr Carden said."Such behaviour from police officers brings discredit to the police as a whole and risks a loss of confidence in the police service."He added Mr Stewart's actions "are not a reflection of the way the overwhelming majority of our officers conduct themselves".The result of the hearing means Mr Stewart is placed on the national barred list, preventing him from becoming a police officer elsewhere. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
Teen race-hate probe 'could have been quicker'
More could have been done to speed up an investigation into an online video showing an alleged racist hate crime against a child, a police chief has said. No charges have been brought a year after the circulation of the footage which appeared to show a black teenage boy in Carlisle being pushed and punched by a white boy before being made to kiss his shoes. Four boys were arrested and released on bail. Rob Carden, chief constable of Cumbria Police, described the case as complex but said the force's work "could have been a lot quicker". His comments follow criticism by Niall McNulty, of Anti Racist Cumbria, who said 12 months was a "long time" for the family of the youngster to wait for some form of outcome. The video was recorded on 15 March 2024 in the Upperby area of Carlisle and involved at least one child from St John Henry Newman Catholic School. Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria's Steph Finnon, Mr Carden said the incident was "deeply disturbing" and it had been "appalling to hear what the young boy had to go through". Asked whether his force's response had been appropriate, he replied: "The case itself is more complex than you might expect. There have been multiple lines of inquiry and people to speak to. "We provided a file for the CPS in November, it came back to us to do more work. It's been with the CPS [again] since January. "A decision is imminent, but from a policing perspective we could have done more to speed that up. It could have been a lot quicker." Mr Carden disputed Mr McNulty's suggestion that it could have been dealt with at the same speed as people charged with online-related crimes following the deaths of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, Merseyside, last summer and subsequent riots across the country. "I don't think you can compare it to some of the online crimes that took place in the summer," Mr Corden said. "They were far more simple to deal with. "There are opportunities to improve. "To make sure we give victims of crime the confidence to come to us and seek help, we've got to be as good as we can [at Cumbria Police] and we haven't been on this occasion." Earlier this week, Anti Racist Cumbria said there should be a system in place to deal with such cases more quickly and "more effectively". Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. No charges a year after alleged hate crime Hate crime probe hitting 'confidence' in police Alleged hate crime condemned by school and leaders Cumbria Police Crown Prosecution Service Anti Racist Cumbria
