Top cop search on hold as job ‘redefined’

The process to recruit a new police commissioner has been temporarily suspended as the territory faces increasingly complex security challenges, Governor Daniel Pruce has announced.

The effort to replace Mark Collins, which started earlier this year with a view toward filling the role by the end of this month, will be delayed and then relaunched with new criteria in keeping with recommendations from an ongoing review of the territory’s law enforcement systems, the governor said on Oct. 31.

“This delay will create a gap after the end of Commissioner Collins’ contract [this month],” Mr. Pruce said.

“I will therefore look to the [police force’s] senior leadership team to bridge that and to support the new commissioner when they start in due course.”

He added that he would also seek “additional reinforcement” at the senior levels of the police force.

‘Complex’ challenges

In explaining the decision, Mr. Pruce described increasingly “complex” security challenges highlighted by a recent review of the territory’s law enforcement agencies by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services in the United Kingdom.

The first volume of the inspectorate’s report, a scathing 175 pages released in June, included 138 recommendations, many of which fell to the police force.

“The police have been making good progress in implementing them, but much work remains to be done,” the governor said.

“The second volume due in a few months will add to that. I expect a large number of more fundamental recommendations.”

Wrong approach

The ongoing review, he said, suggested that officials were going about the hiring process the wrong way.

“The assessments of volumes one and two show that the qualities we need in that new commissioner are different to those we sought when we launched the recruitment process earlier this year,” he said.

“We need someone who can lead a mission-critical organisation through a complex strategic transformation while delivering improved operational outcomes.”

Because of the shift, he said, he is terminating the current recruitment process in order to “redefine the skills and experience required” and readvertise the position.

“It is my intention to launch a new process as soon as possible,” he added. “I should like to express my thanks to all those who applied in the current competition. I recognise this will be disappointing news for you, but I have a constitutional duty to ensure I do my utmost to deliver security for the islands.”

Previous applicants

The governor stated that candidates who previously applied will not be disqualified from the new process.

“They would need to re-apply showing they meet the requirements of the new job description,” he said, adding, “Appointing a new commissioner of police is likely to be the single most important security decision I will take during my tenure as governor.”