States of Jersey Police Force: appointment of Chief Officer

2019  R.138

REPORT

In accordance with Regulation 6 of the States of Jersey Police Force (Chief Officer and Deputy Chief Officer) (Jersey) Regulations 2017, the Minister for Home Affairs has approved the appointment of Mr. Robin Smith as the new Chief of Police for the States of Jersey Police Force.

Candidate Synopsis Mr. Robin Smith

Mr. Smith is a Chief Police Officer with over 30 years' experience in several executive positions and portfolios. He was formerly T/ Deputy Chief Constable in Sussex and Surrey Police with responsibility for the day-to-day delivery of policing services, including corporate development, corporate communications, professional standards and anti-corruption.

Currently he is the Assistant Chief Constable responsible for delivering policing and security across the rail network in England (including the London Underground), Scotland and Wales. He has significant operational and organisational experience, including counter-terrorism, firearms command, public order, public protection and safeguarding.

He has experience in leading and delivering major transformational change programmes to drive efficiencies, increase value for money, and improve services. He has also been the lead for Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy ("PEEL") inspections under  Her  Majesty's  Inspectorate  of  Constabulary  and  Fire  and  Rescue  Services ("HMICFRS").

He was Gold Commander for the Manchester Arena and London Bridge terrorist attacks and the Croydon tram crash.

His Chief Officer portfolios include: Head of Major Crime (Homicide) and Special Branch, Surrey and Sussex Police; Head of Firearms, Public Protection/Safeguarding; Head of South-East Regional Crime Unit; Head of Surrey and Sussex Police Operations Command;  Divisional  Commander  East  Sussex;  Divisional  Commander  Gatwick Airport;  Head  of  Corporate  Development,  Project  Management,  Corporate Communications and Crime Manager. Significant operational and counter-terrorism experience. Delivery of major change programmes and large policing operations (Gold Commander Notting Hill Carnival), with a track record for exceeding challenging organisational  goals,  and  delivering  improved  performance/service  and  value  for money.

He has a detailed knowledge and understanding of both the public and private sectors, with a reputation for working effectively with stakeholders and government departments (Home Office, Department for Transport, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Governments, Train-Operating Companies, Aviation Industry, Football Association and Premier  League)  to  deliver  improved  organisational,  operational  and  stakeholder outcomes.

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Process

The  process  to  appoint  the  new  Chief  of  Police  was  overseen  by  the  Jersey Appointments Commission, with the Chair of the Commission, Dame Janet Paraskeva, chairing the full end-to-end process. The process of recruitment and attraction of candidates was managed by the Government of Jersey resourcing team, and supported with additional outreach to potential candidates and, in the final assessment process, by a specialist Executive Search Firm, Penna.

The recruitment campaign launched on 4th July 2019, with the campaign appearing in the following media –

• www.gov.je

• Jersey Evening Post

• Municipal Journal

• Guardian Jobs

• Police Professional

• Police Oracle.

Throughout the advertising campaign, interested candidates were given the opportunity for an informal conversation about the role jointly with Dr. Jason Lane, Chair of the Jersey  Police  Authority,  and  the  Chief  Executive  of  the  Government  of  Jersey, Mr. Charlie Parker.

Some 15 on- and off-Island candidates were targeted in the initial search, which produced  a  formal  longlist  of  7 candidates  (6 male  and  one  female)  for  initial consideration. One candidate withdrew before longlisting, and 6 candidates were taken forward  for  independent  technical  assessment.  Following  these  assessments, 3 candidates were shortlisted for final Interview.

In the application procedure, candidates were asked to complete and detail the following information –

• confirmation that they had completed the Strategic Command Course ("SCC")

• their current salary package and expectations

• an up-to-date CV detailing their career history and achievements

• a supporting statement on how they met the person specification' of the role.

Stages

There are 8 stages to the overall recruitment process, which was overseen by the Jersey Appointments Commission –

1. Promotion of the role.
2. Initial assessment of candidates that submitted a formal application. This was conducted by the Government's central resourcing function, and independently by Roger Russell, executive search director from Penna.
3. Candidate Longlisting meeting held on 2nd September.
4. Technical Assessment conducted by Dee Collins, ex Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police and Penna, on 4th and 5th September.
5. Candidate Shortlisting meeting held on 25th September. R.138/2019

6. Full day assessment centre on 22nd October. This included a tour of the States of Jersey Police Headquarters and a meet and greet' with members of the Force and 2 independent stakeholder Panels, one consisting of representatives from children and mental health charities, and the second of members of Jersey's Blue  light'  departments –  Police,  Fire,  Ambulance,  and  Customs  and Immigration. Additionally, candidates undertook psychometric tests, a strategic written exercise, a leadership role play exercise, a leadership interview, and a media assessment, and met informally with the Minister for Home Affairs.
7. Final Panel interviews held on 23rd October.
8. Formal appointment by Ministerial Decision of the Minister for Home Affairs and presentation to the States of this Report.

The Panel

• Dame Janet Paraskeva, D.B.E. (Panel Chair) – Jersey Appointments Commission

• Dr. Jason Lane – Chair of the Jersey Police Authority

• Mr. Charlie Parker – Chief Executive, Government of Jersey

• Mr. Tom Walker – Director General – Government of Jersey

• Justine  Curran –  Senior  Independent  Adviser  and  former  Chief  Constable  of Humberside Police.

Resource implications

This decision does not give rise to any additional resource implications for the States of Jersey.