Home Secretary announces new Inspectors of Constabulary

14 Aug 09

Home Secretary Alan Johnson has announced four new Inspectors of Constabulary.

The four were appointed by The Queen to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) following a recommendation by the Home Secretary.

Roger Baker, Zoe Billingham, Drusilla Sharpling and Bernard Hogan-Howe will be charged with inspecting the police forces and authorities of England and Wales following their appointment. Their wide range of skills and experience will further strengthen HMIC as it continues to implement the reforms outlined in last July’s Policing Green Paper.

On the appointments, Alan Johnson said: "All four of these individuals have enjoyed exceptional careers, and will bring a range of new and different abilities to this vital and challenging role."

The Home Secretary made his recommendation to Her Majesty the Queen following an open competition for the posts.

Inspectors of constabulary report directly to Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary (HMCIC), who is the Home Secretary's principal professional policing advisor. The HMCIC is independent both of the Home Office and of the police service.

The role has existed for more than 150 years, with the first inspectors appointed under the County and Borough Police Act 1856.

Biographies of those involved

Roger Baker QPM

Roger Baker was chief constable of Essex Police from July 2005 to July 2009. Before that, he served as deputy chief constable of North Yorkshire Police for two years, with portfolio responsibility for performance, crime and operations, audit, review and inspection.

From 2001 to 2003, Baker was assistant chief constable of Staffordshire Police with portfolio responsibility for territorial policing, crime and operations.

Bernard Hogan-Howe QPM

Hogan-Howe has been chief constable of Merseyside Police since September 2004. It was his second spell with Merseyside Police. From 1997 to 2001, he was assistant chief constable, with responsibilities including community affairs and area operations.

Hogan-Howe moved back to Merseyside in 2004 after just over three years as assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan Police with responsibility for Human Resources.

Zoë Billingham

Ms Billingham has been director of community safety and sustainability at the Audit Commission since February 2004. Before this, she worked in the Cabinet Office for four years, initially as a development manager in the Regulatory Impact Unit, then as a deputy director in the Office of Public Services.

Druscilla Sharpling CBE

Since 2002, Sharpling was a chief crown prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service in London. It was her second spell at the CPS, following 12 years of service from 1987. In that time, Ms Sharpling worked in various roles, including head of casework services and as crown prosecutor.

From 1999 to 2002, Sharpling was an associate at Pennington’s, a city law firm.