National Police Chiefs' Council

The NPCC was established on 1 April 2015 as the replacement organisation of the Association of Chief Police Officers.

In 2010, the Cameron Government announced a series of police reforms including local accountability through police and crime commissioners (PCC), and the creation of the National Crime Agency and the College of Policing. In 2013, the PCCs commissioned General Sir Nick Parker to review the services that ACPO provided and make recommendations about the requirements of a national policing body following the fundamental changes in policing.[1] In 2014, a group of chief officers and PCCs began working together to implement Parker's recommendations and develop a national body. Chief officers voted in support of the group's proposals in July 2014. Chief Constable Sara Thornton was appointed to chair the NPCC on 2 December 2014. ACPO was closed down on 31 March 2015.[2]

In October 2018, the NPCC threatened to take legal action in the High Court against government's plans to cut hundreds of millions of pounds from police funding. The Treasury planned to increase the money each force pays to the police pension scheme. This would involve forces paying a £420 million bill, as well as the 19% cut to police funding since 2010. Police chiefs maintain reductions have make it hard for forces to protect the public. Leaders of three of the biggest forces fear officer levels will drop to those of the 1970s. The NPCC fears if the £420 million bill is dealt with only by cutting police numbers, this will mean 10,000 fewer officers.[3]

The NPCC is founded by a legal agreement between chief constables, PCCs, and non-Home Office police force equivalents under Section 22A of the Police Act 1996. It is hosted by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) but acts independently.[4][5]

The NPCC brings together and is funded by police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as the armed services and some British overseas territories. Since 2019/20, following a letter of agreement with NPCC, the Police Service of Scotland contributes to the funding of the NPCC and has the same involvement in the governance and arrangements of the NPCC as any other member.[6] It draws on the efforts and expertise of chief officers: those ranked assistant chief constable and above, or commander and above in MPS and City of London Police, and senior police staff equivalents. It coordinates police forces' collective operational responses to national threats such as terrorism, organised crime and national emergencies.

The current NPCC chair is Gavin Stephens.[7] Michelle Skeer and Rachel Swann (chief constables of Cumbria Constabulary and Derbyshire Constabulary, respectively) support him as vice-chairs in addition to serving as chief officers within their forces.

The NPCC operates and/or collaborates with the following police projects:

• ACRO Criminal Records Office (ACRO)
• National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS)
• International Crime Coordination Centre (ICCC)
• National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS)
• National Domestic Extremism and Disorder Intelligence Unit (NDEDIU)
• National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC)
• National Police Freedom of Information and Data Protection Unit (NPFDU)
• National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU)
• Secured by Design
• Counter Terrorism Policing

• Operation Hydrant

• Official website