Julie Etchingham

Julie Etchingham is a newsreader, presenter and broadcast journalist with over three decades of experience working across the BBC, Sky News and ITV. She has chaired general election leaders’ debates, presented and reported on US Presidential elections, and co-presented coverage of major royal weddings, Jubilees and funerals. Julie has also led live coverage of developing news stories including the 7/7 bombings in London and the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. Julie has hosted awards ceremonies and moderated international conferences, including one at the Vatican with Pope Francis.

Chief Constable Gavin Stephens QPM

Gavin was elected to the Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) in 2022 and took up the role in April 2023, having served in Surrey Police from Constable to Chief Constable.

As Chair of NPCC Gavin is responsible for ensuring strong co-ordination and collaboration across UK Policing, including British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. Policing practices across the UK are held together by strong principles and values, which are rooted in policing by consent. Working together with the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the College of Policing, His Majesty’s Inspectorate, the National Crime Agency, and many other public and voluntary bodies, Gavin ensures NPCC contributes to a shared vision of achieving the must trusted and engaged policing service in the world, by making communities safer and stronger.

Gavin is the Senior Responsible Officer for the national Police Race Action Plan. He is a Director of BlueLight Commercial and Police Digital Services. He chairs the Boards of the Criminal Records Office, and Police Crime Prevention Initiatives. He is a trustee of the charity Police Care UK, and chairs the Board of Trustees for Police Arboretum Memorial Trust. He is a patron of the Police Mutual Assurance Society.

In his former role as Chief Constable of Surrey, Gavin was chair of the NPCC Finance Coordination Committee and NPCC Communications Advisory Group. Prior to that he was NPCC lead for Neighbourhood Policing and chaired the committee to produce the College of Policing Guidelines on Modernising Neighbourhood Policing.

Born and bred in Hartlepool on the North East coast, Gavin studied engineering and management studies at the University of Cambridge and worked for GEC Marconi Research as a sponsored student. Upon graduation he joined Cambridgeshire Constabulary, then transferred to Surrey Police in 1996. He worked across a wide variety of roles including Head of Serious & Organised Crime, Professional Standards, and often returned to his passion of Neighbourhood Policing.

Session 1: Chairs introduction

APCC Chair Emily Spurrell

PCC Emily Spurrell was elected as Chair of the APCC in September 2024.

Emily is in her second term as Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside, having been first elected in May 2021 and re-elected in May 2024.

Prior to becoming PCC for Merseyside, Emily was Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner and served as a Liverpool City Councillor leading on Community Safety. 

Session 1: Chairs introduction

Roger Hirst

Roger Hirst was first elected as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex in May 2016, and in May 2024, he was elected for a third term in Office. He became the first Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner in the country in October 2017. Roger’s core belief is that safe and secure communities are the bedrock on which prosperity is built for all, and this remains central to his vision for making Essex safer. A strong advocate of prevention, partnership and people, Roger has worked hard to build a foundation of collaborative working between emergency services, local authorities, councils, the voluntary sector and communities in Essex, believing we can do more and achieve more together.

A long-standing member of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioner’s Board and Finance Lead for Police and Crime Commissioner’s nationally, Roger led the successful campaign to secure funding for an additional 20,000 police officers across the country and achieved the target of recruiting an additional 905 Essex Police officers in March 2023, making the force the biggest in its 185-year history. Roger’s ambition is to continue to cut crime through continuing investment in local visible policing, using data driven activity to target known hotspots and providing early intervention to identify and protect vulnerable people.

Prior to his election as Commissioner, Roger was Cabinet Member at Essex County Council with responsibility for Transformation and then for communities; Deputy Leader of Brentwood Borough Council; and has 33 years’ experience as a senior investment banker in the City of London. In his limited spare time, Roger is a Trustee for several Charities.

Session 2: Policing landscape 2025

Sir Andy Marsh QPM

Chief Constable Sir Andy Marsh QPM has been CEO of the College of Policing since 2021 and is the longest serving Chief Constable in England and Wales. As a system leader, Andy has been responsible for introducing a number of changes into policing, including a revised Code of Ethics, a fourth entry route and has worked alongside the NPCC to establish a new National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection.
He was honoured to receive a knighthood for services to policing at the end of 2024.

Session 2: Plenary session: Policing landscape 2025

Andy Newsham

Andy Newsham is a PwC Partner and the National Lead for Policing. Andy has spent the last decade working with Policing Leaders to help them deliver their core mission of making communities safer and protecting the public. He specialises in strategy led enterprise transformation and has worked extensively across the the Law Enforcement Network. Prior to this, Andy served for 20 years as an operational leader in the Army.

Session 2: Plenary session: Policing landscape 2025

AC Louisa Rolfe OBE

Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe's career in policing started in Avon and Somerset Police, where she rose from being a neighbourhood PC to becoming one of the country’s most senior female officers.

During her 25 year career with Avon and Somerset Police, she led on development of a Regional Organised Crime Unit and Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit in the South West, a bi-force Major Crime Investigation Team, and a tri-force response to roads policing, firearms and dogs alongside Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Police forces.

She is passionate about diversity and equality issues and, as Head of CID in Avon and Somerset, helped increase representation of women officers in top crime fighting posts. In the West Midlands she actively sponsored the development of a more diverse workforce.

AC Rolfe joined West Midlands Police as Deputy Chief Constable in February 2016. Her role with the force was to lead operational business and oversee the force’s WMP2020 innovation and change programme. WMP2020 featured 33 individual projects designed to make the force more agile when fighting crime and more accessible to the public.

In June 2020 she joined the Metropolitan Police Service as Assistant Commissioner Met Operations with responsibility for major events including large scale protests, Notting Hill Carnival, HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and state funeral. In October 2022 she moved to AC Frontline Policing with responsibility for Boroughs and Specialist Crime. She was instrumental in development of the New Met for London plan, led on the MPS’s response to Violence against Women and Girls and worked with colleagues to deliver improvements in the response to child exploitation, neighbourhood policing and volume crime investigations, enabling the Met to effectively address HMICFRS recommendations.

In November 2024 she took on her current role to lead for policing on the Government’s plans for reform. Within a joint team with the Home Office she is working to ensure reform achieves our collective ambition across the policing system.

AC Rolfe has been the National Police Chief’s Council lead for Domestic Abuse since 2013. She led the UK police response to HMIC’s report Everyone’s Business – focused on improving the response to domestic abuse – urging forces to prioritise domestic abuse and securing substantial improvements across the service. Her work in this area was recognised in the 2019 New Year’s Honours being awarded an OBE. Louisa Rolfe is the NPCC Lead for National Crime Coordination Committee.

Session 2: Plenary session: Policing landscape 2025

Tom Kirchmaier

Director of the Policing and Crime research group

Professor Tom Kirchmaier is Director of the Policing and Crime research group focusing on understanding the full spectrum of questions relating to policing and crime, with a special focus on Police Organizational Efficiency, Demand Prediction, Financial and Organised Crime, Domestic Abuse, as well as Serious Violence. He works with very large datasets from the police and beyond, and is currently working actively to include the possibilities of the new AI methods in his research. Prior to the CEP, Tom was with the Financial Markets Group of the LSE, and the Manchester and Copenhagen Business Schools. Tom holds a PhD from the LSE (CEP).

Current areas of research include - Economics of Crime and Policing: 'Police Productivity' - in part using AI methods; Domestic Abuse; AML, Fraud, and Organised Crime; Crowd Management; Non-discriminatory Algorithms; Serious Violence; Crime Networks.

Session 2: Plenary session: Policing landscape 2025

The Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP

Shabana Mahmood was elected as the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Ladywood in 2010. She was born and brought up in the heart of Birmingham, attending a local school as a child and living within the constituency.

In September 2025, Shabana was appointed Home Secretary.

Shabana is a campaigning Member of Parliament and is proud to work alongside constituents to ensure Birmingham Ladywood is a great place to live and work.

Session 3: Keynote Address

Amanda Coleman

Amanda is a Chartered PR Practitioner, fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and the Public Relations and Communications Association. She led the police response to the Manchester Arena terrorist attack in 2017 and has managed many operational and reputational crises. Amanda is currently the Chair of the UK Emergency Planning Society Communication Professional Working Group. She regularly provides guest lectures to students in universities and colleges globally.

Session 4: Plenary session: Shocks and risks

Jonathon Ellison

Jonathon is Director for National Resilience at the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Jonathon sits on NCSC’s board, and leads NCSC’s efforts to increase cyber resilience across the UK - within government, critical national infrastructure, and across businesses and organisations of all sizes.

Jonathon has held multiple senior leadership roles at the intersection between technology and national security.

Jonathon holds a degree in Computer Science from Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford. He was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2022.

Session 4: Plenary session: Shocks and risks

Alison Hernandez

Now approaching her second decade as Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Alison Hernandez is one of the UK’s few long-standing Commissioners. She is the national co-Chair of both the Serious & Organised Crime portfolio, and more recently, Criminal Justice.

Overseeing the country’s largest geographic policing area, Alison has taken an innovative approach, with some groundbreaking schemes such as one of the first to trial virtual courts, ‘CJ & You’—an essential guide for victims seeking justice—and the award-winning ‘Prisoners Building Homes,’ contributing to reducing reoffending rates to below 5%. Alison also headed the local, strategic Criminal Justice response to the riots of 2024, the first area to scrutinise whether two-tier policing existed, pre-empting the government’s approach.

As Chair of both Devon and Cornwall’s Local Criminal Justice Board and the South West Reducing Reoffending Partnership, Alison is relentless in her work to bring partners together, with the collective aim of ensuring fair and proportionate justice for all.

Her recent work in successfully helping Devon and Cornwall Police address its performance issues has led to her working closely with His Majesty’s Inspectorate and policing’s professional body, the College of Policing, to secure strong police leadership.

Alison is proud of her Devon roots, having been born and raised in Torquay, and in her downtime regularly enjoys exploring the natural beauty of Devon and Cornwall, particularly if the day ends at a pub!

Session 4: Plenary session: Shocks and risks

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams

Head of the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC) and National Mobilisation Coordinator

Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) Mark Williams serves as the Head of the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC) and National Mobilisation Coordinator, where he plays a pivotal role in strengthening policing capabilities across the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies, and British Overseas Territories. He oversees both the NPoCC Operations function and the Strategic Intelligence and Briefing Unit (SIB), ensuring effective coordination and intelligence-led decision-making at the national level.

ACC Williams also chairs the National Police Chiefs’ Council Civil Contingencies Portfolio, working in close partnership with government departments and key stakeholders to enhance national preparedness and resilience in the face of civil emergencies.

Beginning his policing career with Lothian and Borders Police in 1993, ACC Williams became Divisional Commander for Edinburgh City at the formation of Police Scotland in 2013. He was promoted to Assistant Chief Constable in 2015, initially leading Local Policing in the West of Scotland before assuming the role of Head of Operational Support in 2018.

Throughout his distinguished career, ACC Williams has led on several high-profile strategic operations. He chaired the Strategic Coordination Group in Scotland for the UK’s EU Exit, was the strategic partnership lead during the national response to the Covid-19 pandemic. He was the Gold Commander for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

More recently, ACC Williams was the UK wide lead for mobilisation, resourcing and logistics in response to the disorder of Summer 2024 (Operation Navette).

He brings extensive operational expertise as a Major Events Commander, Strategic Firearms Commander, and Gold Public Order Commander, contributing significantly to the safety and security of communities across the UK.

Session 4: Plenary session: Shocks and risks

Professor Paul Taylor

Professor Paul Taylor became the first Police Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) on 1 May 2021, with a remit to connect science and technology expertise both in the UK and globally to keep policing at the forefront of best practice. The role of the Police CSA is to guide critical strategies, policies and decisions, helping police to protect millions of people.

Paul is a Professor of Psychology at Lancaster University, Professor of Human Interaction at the University of Twente, and founding director of the UK Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats (CREST). Established in 2015, CREST has brought together over 140 researchers from 35 universities and SMEs to deliver research that informs policy and practice in security and policing.

Over his career Professor Taylor has contributed science advice to a number of high-profile police investigations in the UK and overseas. In 2005 he received a Metropolitan Police Service Commissioner Commendation for his contributions.

Session 5: AI and tech what works?

Michelle Skeer OBE QPM

HMI Michelle Skeer was appointed to HMICFRS in April 2023, joining the inspectorate from Cumbria Constabulary.

Michelle joined Cumbria Constabulary in February 1990. The majority of her career has been within Crime Command where she served in every rank and as a Chief Officer since 2009. As a Senior Investigating Officer Michelle led several major investigations in serious and organised crime and enquiries which centred on protecting vulnerable members of the public.

Michelle served as Director of Professional Standards for the constabulary leading the force in matters of anti-corruption, public complaints and information security.

Michelle was appointed as Deputy Chief Constable in 2014 and in 2018 became Cumbria Constabulary’s first female Chief Constable.

Michelle received the Queen’s Policing Medal (QPM) for her distinguished service in the New Year’s Honours list in December 2017. In July 2019 she became the President of the British Association of Women in Policing (BAWP).

She was awarded an OBE in the King’s 2023 Birthday Honours List.

Session 5: Measuring Up

The Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP

The Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE was appointed Minister of State in the Home Office on 8 July 2024.

She was elected as the MP for Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham at the general election in July 2024 and has represented Hull North, as Hull’s first female MP, since May 2005.

Diana was Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee from 2021 until 2024.

Under the Labour government between 2005 and 2010 Diana was a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Children, Schools and Families and a government whip.

Between 2010 and 2015 Diana held a number of front bench roles including in the shadow Home Office team.

She was named backbencher of the year in 2018 for her work to secure a public inquiry into the NHS contaminated blood scandal.

Diana was appointed as a Commissioner on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in 2019.

In 2020 Diana received a Damehood for her political and charitable work.

Session 5: Measuring Up

Chris Nelson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire

Chris Nelson was first elected as Gloucestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) in May 2021, then again in 2024.

After growing up in Leeds, state educated, Chris joined the Army at 18, attending Sandhurst. He retired as a full Colonel, having served operationally in the First Gulf War and on the streets of Northern Ireland. His senior staff roles embraced tri-service programme and resource management, operational equipment requirements, budgets, work force planning, IT, training, recruitment, and estates. He gained two degrees and multiple academic and professional qualifications during his time in the Army.

Following his military service, he had a career in business, helping to provide state of the art training facilities to police forces around the world, finishing off that second career as Vice President International Business Development for a US company in Atlanta, Georgia.

His third career as a politician includes time as a Borough councillor in Cheltenham, Member of the County Police and Crime Panel and Chairman of a very busy parish council. A passionate believer in the virtues of volunteering and public service, he is privileged to have supported his local community whenever an opportunity has presented itself.

As PCC for Gloucestershire, Chris has been a strong advocate of high professional standards; introduced a zero-tolerance approach to Anti-Social Behaviour; secured funding for significant numbers of extra police officers/staff; helped the Constabulary gain Outstanding status for recording reported crime; tackled male violence against women and girls; reduced the cost of rural crime; mitigated scam calls; and improved the Constabulary’s 999 and 101 service, so that it is now one of the best in the country.

Working with his fellow Commissioners in the South West, he is Chair of the Prisoners Building Homes Programme, an innovative scheme that reduces reoffending and provides much needed affordable homes.

Building on his experience helping the Constabulary to exit ‘Special Measures’ (something he inherited at the start of his first term of office), he has now become Joint National Lead for Performance within the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners. He is also Joint National Lead for Local Policing, in line with his focus on Neighbourhood Policing and tackling Anti-Social Behaviour.

Session 5: Measuring Up

AC Matt Twist (Performance management Committee)

Matt joined the Met in 1996 as a Police Constable assigned to Kensington and Chelsea. He has spent the vast majority of his service in operational roles including Emergency response, Special Branch, Aviation Security and the Specialist Firearms Command.

Matt served in Surrey Police for three years as a Chief Superintendent between 2013 and 2016 in roles including Head of Investigations, Divisional Commander and Temporary Assistant Chief Constable. Matt returned to the Met  in  May  2016  as  Commander  for  Firearms  and  Taskforce  and  led  the  2016  armed  uplift  and  the  first  deployment of Op Temperer (military support to police) in 2017. As NPCC lead for Self Defence, Arrest and Restraint he has delivered nationally both use of force recording, and the standardisation and improvement of all police personal safety training.

Matt was promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC) and has held responsibility for Transformation as SRO for programmes including Command & Control, Smarter Working and Central Estates (a 6‐year programme moving 7000 people, redeveloping 27 sites and creating a CT Operations Centre in West London). He led a team implementing the recommendations of Sir Richard Henriques’ Independent Review of the Metropolitan Police Service handling of non‐recent sexual offence investigations alleged against persons of public prominence.

As DAC Matt was the MPS Gold Commander for the overall response to the Covid pandemic, working as a core member  of  London’s  outbreak  control  group  as  well  as  national  police  groups  working  through  nearly  200  changes in laws and regulations, and the impact on the public of London and a workforce of nearly forty thousand. As DAC Specialist Operations and Deputy to Head of CT Policing, he was the national lead for CT Protect and Prepare. Within London he was responsible for Royalty and Specialist Protection, Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection, Aviation Security and wider CT security operations. Matt led CT Policing’s response to the Manchester Arena Inquiry, giving evidence at the inquiry and led for CT in the implementation of the Protect Duty.

October  2022  Matt  was  promoted  to  Assistant  Commissioner  Met  Operations  and  Performance,  leading  transformation within the Mets performance functions. He oversaw the response to major public order and protest issues from 2022 and the end of 2024 as well as major events including The Coronation and Notting Hill Carnival. He was responsible for the Mets firearms operations and resilience, working closely with Government and national bodies to deliver the Police Accountability Review,

In November 2025 Matt moved to lead Frontline Policing, with a brief to improve local crime performance. His business group is made up of over 20,000 officers and staff responsible for local policing, public protection and Specialist  Crime  within  London.  In  addition,  Matt  has  corporate  responsibility  for  the  Command  &  Control  change programme, and Operation Northleigh ‐ the police investigation into the Grenfell Tower disaster. Matt has recently been elected as the Chair of the NPCC Performance Management Coordinating Committee and was awarded the Kings Police Medal in the 2025 New Years Honours list.

Session 5: Measuring Up

Rachel Watson (Independent Office for Police Conduct)

Rachel was appointed Director General of the IOPC by the Crown in April 2024.

Her job is to lead the IOPC in our mission to improve policing through independent oversight of the police complaints system.

Rachel has significant public service experience having worked in the heart of government for more than 20 years. This includes a decade working at the Home Office, where she was Policing Director for five years before joining the IOPC, giving her extensive knowledge of policing and policing stakeholders. Rachel has worked in a range of Government departments before joining the Home Office, including HM Treasury, HM Revenue & Customs and the Department for Energy & Climate Change.

She has undertaken a variety of different roles including media relations in HM Treasury, leading organisational change in the former Identity and Passport Service and undertaking culture transformation.

Session 5: Measuring Up

Assistant Chief Constable Tom Harding

Tom joined the College of Policing in July 2023 from Gwent Police, bringing extensive operational experience gained across uniform and detective roles, including as a Strategic Firearms Commander and Gold Public Order Commander.

Tom began his policing journey as a special constable with Leicestershire Police whilst studying law at Leicester University. After qualifying as a solicitor in 2006 and working for one of Europe's largest law firms, he chose to join West Mercia Police as an officer in 2008.

During his career, Tom has proudly led the development of nationally recognised work to tackle child criminal exploitation and the award-winning acquisitive crime strategy "We Don't Buy Crime". He is a great advocate of evidence-based policing and is hugely passionate about developing and sharing best practice across the service.

In his role at the College, Tom's team sets operational standards that build public trust and confidence. Recent achievements include improvements to the Code of Ethics, vetting processes, public order guidance, firearms licencing, and establishing Op Soteria – a joint unit with the NPCC and Home Office to enhance the policing response to rape and sexual offences.

Tom is a champion of problem-solving approaches and supporting leaders to deliver trusted and effective, community-focussed policing that keeps people safe.

Session 5: In the Neighbourhood

T/Deputy Chief Constable Catherine Akehurst

Catherine is currently a member of the Hertfordshire Constabulary Chief Officer Team, seconded to the National Police Chiefs’ Council as temporary Deputy Chief Constable and Programme Lead for the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. She started her policing career in Greater Manchester Police in 2003, transferring to Hertfordshire in 2005 where she has served at all ranks from PC to T/DCC. Catherine moved to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary in March 2022 where she was ACC for the Joint Operations Unit and Contact Management before returning to Hertfordshire Constabulary in April 2023. From July 2023 to early 2025, Catherine held the role of NPCC lead for the Contact Management portfolio. Prior to becoming a police officer, she spent seven years as a senior manager for a large retail company.

Session 5: In the Neighbourhood

John Hayward-Cripps

John was appointed CEO of Neighbourhood Watch Network in January 2018 with a remit to build on the fantastic history and achievements of Neighbourhood Watch and help the movement move forward to work in areas of high crime, gain a more diverse membership and strengthen communities. Now 50% of Neighbourhood Watch members are under 55 and in a 2024 public survey of 25,000 people; 77% agree it is effective at preventing crime, 81% agree it supports vulnerable people in the community, and 82% agree Neighbourhood Watch strengthens community spirit.

John started his career as an Outward-Bound Instructor, then Child Protection Social Worker at East Sussex County Council, before becoming a Children’s Team Manager in CCHF then Director and CEO of Victim Support. John also has experience in the private sector working for two years as a Consultant Manager for EY in their Government and Public Sector Consultancy wing supporting local authorities social care departments in organisational change.

Session 5: In the Neighbourhood

Zoe Wilkinson

Zoe Wilkinson is the Programme Director for the Neighbourhood Policing Programme, responsible for delivering the Government’s commitment to increasing neighbourhood policing officers and PCSOs, as well as implementing a new 'Guarantee' on neighbourhood policing for the public. This Guarantee ensures that every neighbourhood in England and Wales will have a named and contactable officer dedicated to tackling local issues, and that forces will have increased patrols in town centres and other hotspots based on local demand and intelligence.

With over 20 years of experience in the public safety arena, Zoe has held a number of policy roles including the Head of the Fire Safety Unit at the Home Office, leading on policy and legislation to improve fire safety. Throughout her career, she has been responsible for the delivery of a range of transformation, strategy, and policy initiatives. This includes transforming partnership working with Arm’s Length Bodies and Inquiries in the Home Office, as well as the policy and legislation for the National Crime Agency.

Session 5: In the Neighbourhood

PCC Matt Storey

Matt Storey was elected as Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland in May 2024, and is the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ (APCC) joint lead for community policing.

Matt has spent his entire career in the public sector. He has worked in the Office of Dari Taylor, Member of Parliament for Stockton South, and as Parliamentary Office Manager to Andy McDonald MP since 2012. Matt has also worked an officer at Middlesbrough Borough Council.

Matt has been a Councillor for Middlesbrough since 2016. He represented the Central Ward. He was also Labour Group Leader from 2019 to 2023 and Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board until May 2024.

Session 5: In the Neighbourhood

Paul Fagg

After spending 15 years in the Met Police, Paul finished his policing career on a national secondment to the National Business Crime Centre. Paul has used his policing experience, coupled with a passion to support victims, to work collaboratively with policing and retailers to make our communities safer.

At Auror, Paul works in partnership with UK Law Enforcement and retailers nationally to combat the current challenges within the organised crime landscape.

Session 5: In the Neighbourhood

David Gauke

David recently chaired the Independent Sentencing Review which made a series of recommendations to reform the criminal justice system. He was the Conservative MP for South West Hertfordshire from 2005 until 2019. He served as a Treasury minister from 2010 being appointed Secretary of State for Work & Pensions in 2017. In January 2018, he was appointed Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. He left Government in July 2019 and left Parliament later that year.

Session 5: Justice Served

Sir Brian Leveson

Sir Brian Leveson is perhaps best known for his contribution to the legal profession as one of England's most respected judges and chair of the Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the press.

Born in Liverpool and educated at Liverpool College, Brian's route to the Bench took him to Merton College, Oxford and call to the Bar by Middle Temple in 1970.

Sir Brian was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1986 and was a Recorder and a Deputy High Court Judge. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court, Queen’s Bench Division, in 2000, and served as a Presiding Judge of the Northern Circuit. In 2005 he was appointed to the new position of Deputy Senior Presiding Judge and in 2006, following his appointment as a Lord Justice of Appeal, he became Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales.

In 2009, he was appointed Chairman of the Sentencing Council which is a post he held until October 2013.

In July 2011, he was appointed by the Prime Minister as chairman of the public inquiry investigating the culture, practices and ethics of the press and its relationship with the public, the police and politicians. The resulting report was published in 2012, fundamentally changing the way the UK's media operates.

From 2013-2019 he was President of the Queen’s Bench Division and became a member of the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee. In January 2015, he published a Review of Efficiency in Criminal Proceedings. In October 2017, he was appointed Head of Criminal Justice and thereafter Deputy Chair of the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee.

He retired from the judiciary in June 2019 and was then appointed Investigatory Powers Commissioner which is a post he has held since October 2019. In December 2024, he was also appointed to conduct an Independent Review of the Criminal Courts.

Session 6: Justice Served

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin

Gabby started her career at BNP Paribas as an equity trader, she then decided to swap finance for politics spending the next decade working for David Cameron both in Opposition and Government.

She was the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary until 2014 and then became Downing Street’s Director of External Relations. In 2016 David Cameron made her a Life Peer. Her focus in the House of Lords is on domestic abuse, sexual violence, prison reform and disability inclusion. She is Co-Chair of the APPG on Domestic Violence and currently sits on the Justice and Home Affairs Select Committee in the House of Lords.

She previously sat on the Children and Families Select Committee, the Communications Act Committee, the Joint Scrutiny Committee for the Domestic Abuse Bill and the Public Services Select Committee.

She also introduced the Stalking Protection Order Bill, giving police greater powers to help victims of stalking.

In 2023 the Conservative Government appointed Gabby as the Lead Reviewer of the Independent Pornography Review to evaluate the legislation, regulation and enforcement of pornography. The Review reported in February 2025 and Gabby is leading a Taskforce to monitor progress of implementation of the report's recommendations. 

Gabby sits on the Board of the Normandy Memorial Trust, the Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys and the Women of the Year Awards.  She is also a former Trustee of KIDS (a charity for disabled children).

Gabby worked at BT as Head of Strategic Communications, and then as a senior adviser to the CEO and Executive Team from 2017 to 2021.

In 2021 she was voted Spectator’s Peer of the Year for her campaigning to end violence against women and girls.

Session 7: Safe Online

Tijs Broeke

Tijs Broeke is Chair of the City of London Police Authority Board, responsible for overseeing the City of London Police – the UK’s national lead force for fraud, economic and cyber crime – and holding the Commissioner to account for delivering an effective and efficient police service locally and nationally.

A senior communications and public policy professional, Tijs brings over 20 years of experience across the public and private sectors, with a background spanning the criminal justice system, transport infrastructure and technology. He works closely with the Home Office and policing partners across the country to strengthen the fight against fraud, safeguard the Square Mile as the world’s safest business district, and support victims of crime.

In 2025, he was appointed Chair of the Prison Service Pay Review Body, providing independent, evidence-based advice to government on pay and conditions for prison staff. He also serves nationally as Chair of the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group, sits on the Board of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, and is a member of the London Policing Board appointed by the Mayor of London.

Elected to the City of London Corporation in 2017, Tijs represents the Ward of Cheap, focusing on policing, security, education, and promoting the City as a global hub for financial and professional services, technology, and innovation.

With frontline experience as a former Special Constable in central London, he has a longstanding commitment to social mobility. Since 2022, he has chaired the Board of Governors at London Metropolitan University and also serves as Deputy Chair of the Barbican Centre Board.

Session 7: Safe Online

Esther Ghey

Esther Ghey is a campaigner and founder of Brianna Ghey Legacy Project, created in memory of her daughter Brianna. Since Brianna’s death, Esther has dedicated herself to improving the wellbeing and safety of children, leading the Phone Free Education campaign which calls for a statutory ban on mobile phones in schools and government funding for lockable pouches. She works closely with policymakers, educators, and charities to address the harms of phone addiction, social media, and online safety, while also promoting mindfulness and mental health support for young people.

Session 7: Safe Online

Jon Higham

Jon Higham is Director of Policy Development in Online Safety Group at Ofcom, UK's communications regulator. He oversaw the development and delivery of Ofcom’s recent consultation on protecting people from illegal harms online. Jon has worked on online safety since 2020 and has played a central role in developing Ofcom’s approach to online regulation. Prior to working on online issues, Jon spent 12 years working in a variety of regulatory policy roles across Ofcom focusing on a range of sectors.

Session 7: Safe Online

Julia Margo

Julia Margo is Director of Fair Hearing, a new charity seeking to support victims of domestic abuse and change law and policy on this vital issue. She is supported in her mission by a number of leading Trusts and foundations including Henry Smith, Esme Fairborn and Sebba and is currently leading a sector wide project to identify a strategy for philanthropy to enable change in the family courts to better serve victims.

She is herself a survivor of domestic abuse and went through 10 years of litigation and 37 hearings to protect her children from her ex partner who was convicted of serious CSA. Her story was shown on Dispatches Torn Apart and in the Sunday Times.

Since her own court experience she has mentored more than 100 DA survivors, through leaving an abusive dynamic and seeking justice and protection from the criminal and family courts.

To date she has trained almost 300 senior criminal and family court Judges on DA and is due to deliver a pilot programme of training to a police force later this year. She has done extensive media on DA including the Observer, New Statesman, Spectator and Telegraph.

Prior to setting up Fair Hearing, Julia spent 15 years in think tanks as Acting CEO of Demos and Director of Research at IPPR. She was also a Charity CEO, running family charities and prior to this spent five years as commissioning editor at the Sunday Times.

Session 9: Victims Voice

Anna Rowe

Founder of Catch the Catfish, Co-Founder of LoveSaid

Anna is a single mum and primary school teacher.

She has helped victims of all types of romance fraud and catfishing since 2017.

With a commitment to lifelong learning, Anna researched and educated herself about the criminals who destroy people’s lives.

Now recognised as a subject matter expert, Anna raises awareness around all aspects of romance fraud. From the human nature of trust, the biochemistry that works against us, the psychology in manipulations and the processes, tricks and tools used by the criminals, including the rise in digital deception. Lack of education and understanding results in victim blaming. How to support victims correctly, is paramount.

She conducts training sessions for law enforcement and other parties involved in romance fraud.

Session 9: Victims Voice

Rt Hon Chris Philp MP

Chris Philp was Minister of State in the Home Office between 26 October 2022 and 5 July 2024.

He was Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office between 14 October 2022 and 25 October 2022.

He was previously appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 6 September 2022 to 14 October 2022.

He was previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport between 17 September 2021 and 7 July 2022.

He was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Home Office and Ministry of Justice from 13 February 2020 to 16 September 2021.

Before that, he was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice from 10 September 2019 to 18 December 2019 and Minister for London at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government from 18 December 2019 to 13 February 2020.

Session 10: Keynote Address

Sanjay Bhandari MBE

Sanjay is Chair of Kick It Out, English football’s leading inclusion and anti-discrimination charity. He is a frequent public commentator and recognised thought leader on online abuse. He has led English football’s parliamentary and regulatory response to online abuse with many recommendations reflected in the Online Safety Act. Sanjay recently co-ordinated a collaboration with Ofcom on research into user enforcement tools for people in sport and media.

Sanjay is Chair of Super League Basketball and Athletic Ventures, which is leading the UK’s bid to host the World Athletics and Para-Athletics Championships in 2029. Sanjay is a member of the Inclusion Advisory Board at the Football Association.

Sanjay was previously a litigation lawyer then a Partner at business consultancy EY and enjoyed a 30 year career in law, technology and innovation.

Sanjay is also Chair of the Satellite Applications Catapult which is a hub for innovation in the UK space technology industry.

Session 12: Free to speak?

Alison Lowe OBE

Alison Lowe OBE is the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) in West Yorkshire.

Ms Lowe was West Yorkshire’s DMPC from 2021-2024, working with the Mayor, Tracy Brabin. On 4 May 2024, Tracy Brabin was re-elected as Mayor of West Yorkshire and selected Alison Lowe as their preferred candidate for Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime. The appointment was confirmed on 14 June 2024.

Alongside her role as DMPC, Ms Lowe has also worked with voluntary organisations for nearly 30 years and represented Armley on Leeds City Council from 1990 to 2019, as well as serving as Chair of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel for five years.

Alison was formerly Chief Executive at Touchstone, a mental health and wellbeing charity based in West and South Yorkshire, she specialised in working with diverse communities.

In the New Year’s Honours 2022, she was awarded an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) for services to mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19

Session 12: Free to speak?

Professor Andrew Tettenborn

Andrew Tettenborn is a writer and law academic. A member of the Legal Advisory Committee of the Free Speech Union, he has drafted submissions to governmental bodies on the organisation's behalf. He has also written for, among others, The Spectator, The Critic, the Daily Mail and Spiked Online.

Session 12: Free to speak?

Baljit Ubhey OBE

Baljit Ubhey qualified as a solicitor in 1994 having joined the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) as a legal trainee in 1992. She has prosecuted the full range of criminal cases and worked on a wide variety of legal and policy issues. Since 2004 she has held many leadership roles within the CPS including 13 years in the role of Chief Crown Prosecutor in different geographical regions including London. As Chief Crown Prosecutor she has overseen significant high-profile cases, delivered performance improvements and implemented major change programmes. Since 2017 she has worked in CPS Headquarters holding a number of Director level posts, with responsibilities including corporate strategy, business planning and legal policy development. She is currently a member of the Executive team at the CPS and Director of Policy.

Session 12: Free to speak?

Matthew Scott

Matthew has been Kent’s PCC since 2016. He is currently co-Lead for the APCC on Workforce and was previously Chair of BlueLight Commercial. His work as PCC has been focussed on citizen engagement, data analysis and effective solutions to local problems. Operation Voice is his third big data exercise, having previously undertaken in depth work on violence against women and girls and violent crime, which have led to new strategies and support for victims of crime. He has also worked in partnership with external agencies on mental health demand, road safety and serious violence. He is currently working on Smartphone Free Schools and the impact of social media on young people.

Session 12: Performing under Pressure

Dr Sarah Charman

Dr Sarah Charman is Professor of Criminology and Director of the Policing Academic Centre of Excellence at the University of Portsmouth, Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice and Senior Associate Fellow at the Police Foundation. She has researched and published widely on the sociology of policing and the policing organisation, most notably on policing cultures, police leadership, police recruits and police retention. Sarah has advised and worked with a number of government bodies and local and national policing organisations and is a regular contributor to both the national UK press and policing practitioner publications.

Session 12: Performing under Pressure

Kul Mahay

Kul Mahay is a former senior Police Commander with over 32 years of experience in the police service. He has managed complex, major investigations, commanded major and critical incidents, and led thousands of staff through the most challenging scenarios.

Kul brings simplicity to the context of organisational thinking and culture transformation

Over the past decade, he has developed extensive experience in culture transformation, leadership development, executive coaching, conflict resolution, executive team development, HR transformation, and working with large and small organisations across all sectors. His development work has involved him working with executive teams through to front-line leaders. He continues to support organisations through transformation and help reshape strategies for inclusion.

He is regularly called upon to comment on issues related to leadership, organisational culture, and embedding emotional intelligence into organisational practices.

He is a TEDx speaker in the area of workforce culture. You can view his TEDx Talk here

He has previously held the position of Chair of Trustees for a charity against Honour Based Violence, dedicated to eliminating so-called honour-based abuse from society and is a NED for a national security and facilities organisation, as well as Chairing the new Student Safety Council.

As a trained TV presenter, Kul is regularly asked to appear on TV and radio as an expert. He hosts his own ‘Unlocking Leadership’ radio show as well his popular podcast ‘Human Centred Leadership’ downloaded in over 140 countries, known for his engaging conversations with senior leaders from across the globe.

Kul enjoys watching films and trying to get fit.

Session 12: Performing under Pressure

Andy Rhodes OBE QPM

Andy Rhodes OBE QPM served 30 years as a police officer and is the former Chief Constable of Lancashire Police a force of over 6000 staff. Up until retirement in 2021 he was chair of CPOSA the Chief Police Officers Staff Association, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the North West Police Benevolent Fund and National Police Chiefs Council lead for wellbeing and organisational development.

In 2015 he established the first National Police Well Being Service - Oscar Kilo which he continues to support part time as Service Director. He was awarded the Queens Police Medal in 2017 and an OBE in the 2022 birthday honours for services to emergency service workers mental health.

Andy has in depth experience, and lifelong commitment to, staff engagement and is a recognised expert in the field of survey methodology, delivery and insights. Some examples of his track record in this area are :-

• Helping to construct the Home Office ONS Frontline Review survey in 2018
• Establishing a national wellbeing survey for all 43 forces in England & Wales and using the insights to drive national / local priorities
• Numerous research studies requiring his advice and guidance on qualitative survey question sets covering issues such as trauma exposure, sleep and wearable technology

Andy has been instrumental in the development of the Police Covenant for England &Wales. He is an influential member of the National Forum for Health & Well Being which advises organisations and Government on workforce health issues and is a volunteer member of INVICTM the International Network Supporting Victims of Terrorism & Mass Casualties.

He currently chairs the Royal Foundation Blue Light Together delivery group and the Police Covenant Delivery Group. He led the COVID19 ‘workforce protection’ Gold group on behalf of the National Police Chiefs Council throughout the pandemic.

Andy’s specific expertise lies in the area of workplace health and leadership strategy, Staff engagement surveying, emergency responder mental health & wellbeing and technology & data innovation

Session 12: Performing under Pressure

Superintendent Nick Smart

Superintendent Nick Smart was elected as president of the Police Superintendents' Association (PSA) in July 2024. Nick was promoted to the rank of superintendent in 2018, and has carried out a variety of operational roles in force, and in corporate projects. He has been a tactical firearms commander and is a silver public order commander.

Nick was formerly the A district chair for the PSA and was chair of West Yorkshire Police Federation branch for four years, during which time he spearheaded the ‘protect the protectors’ campaign and led work around legislation on assaults on emergency services workers.

Nick also served as Acting President of the association from October 2023.

Session 12: Performing under Pressure

DCC Wendy Gunney

In January 2025, Wendy was appointed as the Deputy Chief Constable, NPCC Lead for Serious Organised Crime (SOC). A challenging and complex portfolio that supports UK Policing in delivering against SOC.

Wendy Gunney was appointed to Assistance Chief Constable in January 2023, she was responsible for the All Wales Collaboration, Counter Terrorism Policing Wales and the Regional Organised Crime Unit, TARIAN.

Wendy started her police career in Thames Valley Police in 1997 when she was posted to Milton Keynes. In 2001, Wendy transferred to South Wales Police and spent several years in different roles within Cardiff. In the early years of policing, Wendy took the opportunity to become an air observer on the police helicopter – this was a career highlight for Wendy.

Wendy qualified and achieved promotion to the ranks of Sergeant and Inspector whilst raising three children, a balance with family life is very important to her.

In 2011, Wendy joined a leadership team responsible for merging seven contact centres into one. At that time, this was one of the biggest change programmes completed by South Wales Police.

Wendy has spent several years within intelligence, investigations, covert policing and serious organised crime, on a force and regional level. In November 2015, Wendy was promoted to DCI within TARIAN, the Regional Organised Crime network and upon promotion to Detective Superintendent in September 2017, Wendy remained within the field of Covert Policing and investigations. She qualified as an Authorising Officer and Senior Investigating Officer for Kidnap & Extortion.

Wendy moved into an operational command role in Cardiff in February 2019 whilst taking the force lead for Knife Crime / Serious Violence, delivering a force wide response. Wendy is an accredited and experienced Strategic Firearms Commander, she is also a Gold Public Order Commander.

In February 2020, she was appointed as Chief Superintendent, Commander for Cardiff and Vale Division, a challenging and demanding command. As a Cardiff resident, she had a personal connection and a passion for leading the Capital City of Wales. She led the team through the Covid Global Pandemic and many large scale organisational changes.

Session 12: After Encrochat

PFCC David Allen

David Allen was elected for Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria in May 2024. David began his career as a Police Constable in 1986 in Carlisle. He worked in all areas of the county as a Police Officer from Workington to Barrow-in-Furness.

After his career with Cumbria Constabulary, David worked for the National Crime Agency tackling foreign national offenders, child online exploitation, drugs and people trafficking at a national level. Within the NCA, he ran the UKs Interpol and Europol Bureaus tackling serious organised crime and keeping the country’s borders safe and secure.

Following on from a 30-year career in policing and law enforcement, David worked in the NHS assisting with setting up Cumbria’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and managed the vaccine programme across North and West Cumbria.

David’s key priorities as Commissioner in Cumbria include: tackling anti-social behaviour through prevention with young people; working with partners to fight rural crime; properly funding the Fire and Rescue Service including providing them with the resources to tackle flooding in the county; tackling domestic abuse and sexual violence.

Session 12: After Encrochat

Graeme Biggar CBE

Graeme Biggar has led the National Crime Agency (NCA) since October 2021. The NCA is an intelligence-led law enforcement agency whose mission is to protect the public from serious and organised crime. It does that by leading the operational system response to ensure that police and law enforcement agencies are working together on the most significant threats, and by itself investigating and degrading the most harmful organised crime groups. The NCA also leads for UK policing on operational cooperation internationally.

Graeme initially joined the NCA in March 2019 as the Director General of the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), which is a collaborative, multi-agency centre established to deliver a step change in the response to fraud and money laundering.

Prior to the NCA, Graeme was the Director of National Security in the Home Office, Chief of Staff to the Defence Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and held a range of other senior Civil Service roles.

Graeme has a degree in History from Oxford University and a masters in International Security Studies from the Royal College of Defence Studies and Kings College London. He was awarded a CBE in 2019 in recognition of his services to national security.

Session 12: After Encrochat

Cathy Haenlein

Cathy Haenlein is Director of Organised Crime and Policing Studies at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Her expertise lies in serious and organised crime, illicit trade, transnational environmental crime and security. As a recognised subject-matter expert, she has authored over 65 publications and has presented insights at influential international fora including the G7, UN and OECD. She has a track record of shaping global policy through high-impact research. Her commentary and expertise have been featured by leading media outlets such as The Economist, The Guardian and the BBC. Cathy is experienced in designing complex research programmes on crime and insecurity internationally, with a focus on East and Southern Africa. She is the editor of ‘Poaching, Wildlife Trafficking and Security in Africa: Myths and Realities’ (Taylor and Francis, 2016). Cathy is also the Chair of RUSI’s Strategic Hub for Organised Crime Research, and recently served as Team Leader of the Critical Maritime Routes Monitoring, Support and Evaluation Mechanism (CRIMSON), working to strengthen trans-regional coordination across EU maritime security programming.

Session 12: After Encrochat

Charlie Taylor

Charlie Taylor was initially appointed as HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in 2020 and was reappointed in 2023.

Charlie Taylor taught for many years in both primary and secondary schools in London. He began to specialise in supporting pupils with special educational needs and in 2005 became the headteacher of the Willows Special School (now The Willows School Academy Trust) for children with severe emotional and behavioural difficulties. During his time there, the school received two ‘outstanding’ ratings from Ofsted.

In 2011 he became an expert adviser on children’s behaviour at the Department for Education, producing reports into school attendance and alternative provision for excluded pupils. While at the Department for Education, he also created a behaviour checklist which is still regularly used in English schools. In 2012 he became the CEO of the National College for Teaching and Leadership, overseeing the recruitment of 30,000 trainee teachers a year and leading on the regulatory process for teachers accused of misconduct.

He led the 2015 review into the youth justice system and made wide-ranging recommendations, including the introduction of Secure Schools, a new model for youth custody. In 2017 he became Chair of the Youth Justice Board and continued working with the Department for Education as an adviser on behaviour hubs, a new initiative to improve the ability of schools to support their most challenging pupils.

Since 2016 he has been a trustee of Dallaglio Rugby Works, an organisation that supports and mentors children who are out of mainstream education.

Session 12: After Encrochat

Andy Hill, Co-founder of Voicebox

Session 13: Beyond Prevent

PCC Clare Moody

Clare was elected as Labour’s Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset in May 2024, and brings a wealth of experience to the role. Clare has a background spanning a variety of sectors, including serving as a Member of the European Parliament, working at the heart of government in No.10 Downing Street, and as a Trade Union officer for over twenty years. Prior to being elected to the PCC role, Clare was co-Chief Exec of Equally Ours, a UK equality and human rights charity. Clare is committed to bringing more voices to the Criminal Justice System, ensuring a more diverse representation.

Session 13: Beyond Prevent

DAC Helen Millichap

Helen joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 1997, starting in Newham, where she specialised in supporting victims of sexual and domestic abuse. Through the years that followed, she worked in a range of both detective and uniformed leadership roles across many parts of London, including as the Borough Commander in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, and later, Haringey, and then as the first BCU Commander for the boroughs of Enfield and Haringey. She held the role of Commander for Learning and Development before becoming the Commander Protection, with responsibility for Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP) and Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection (PaDP).

In 2023, Helen became the Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Local Policing and the Met’s lead for tackling Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG). She then assumed responsibility for the portfolio of Trust and Legitimacy, including the delivery of culture reform. She continues to believe that success in each of these areas is critical to policing’s role in protecting the public.

Helen was honoured to be awarded a Kings Policing Medal for Distinguished Service in overseeing protective security operations during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the funerals of the Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II, and the management of the Met’s response to tackling VAWG.

In May 2025, she was appointed as the Director of the National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection (NCVPP) and assumed responsibility for policing’s national VAWG portfolio the following month. Helen is proud to lead this critical work – a collaboration between the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council, which is focused on supporting forces to achieve the highest possible standards for victims, bringing more offenders to justice and continuing to tackle the ever-growing threat in this area by identifying and sharing innovative and effective practice.

Session 14: Getting to 50 per cent