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Former Navy officer appointed new HM Inspector

Matthew Parr joins the inspectorate after more than 30 years in the Royal Navy
Published - 02/08/2016 By - Helena Hickey - Police Oracle

A former Royal Navy Rear Admiral has been appointed as a new HM Inspector of Constabulary.

Matthew Parr will now oversee police forces in the London region, non-Home Office forces and the National Crime Agency, following the departure of HMI Stephen Otter in May 2016.

He will also lead HMIC’s work in the field of counter-terrorism and organised crime policing, following a “rigorous recruitment process” which included approval by the Prime Minister and the Queen.

New Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: “Matthew brings a wealth of expertise and experience from his career in the Royal Navy that will be invaluable in his new role and I look forward to working with him in the future.”

Mr Parr, whose Navy career included time spent as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff and as a commanding officer, said he was delighted to have been appointed to the “prestigious post”.

“Policing is a crucial and demanding public service and I look forward to using the experience I have gained in a rewarding career in the Navy to help promote further reform and improvement,” he said,

The selection panel was chaired by an OCPA public appointments assessor and comprised a senior civil servant, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary, and an independent member.

Sir Tom Winsor, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary said: “Matt brings to HMIC considerable expertise and experience which will be of very great value in our work, and I most warmly welcome him to this role.”

Calum Macleod, vice-chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said Mr Parr should take time to understand policing and the demands on officers in the current climate.

“Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary plays an important role in effectively assessing police forces and identifying best practice, but must ensure its increasing inspection regime is delivered in a balanced way, a way that doesn’t further impact on taking away from both an already over stretched front line and over stretched budgets. It must be about more than ticking boxes.”

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