Merseyside Police set to appoint its first female Chief Constable

The region's Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy has announced that current Deputy Chief Constable, Serena Kennedy, is her preferred choice to be the next Chief Constable of Merseyside Police.

Ms Kennedy is referring DCC Kennedy to the Police and Crime Panel for confirmation and, if it approves the recommendation, she is set to replace the current Chief Constable, Andy Cooke, in April.

The preference, which would see Merseyside Police appoint first female Chief Constable, was made on International Women’s Day

DCC Kennedy joined Merseyside Police in 2017 as Assistant Chief Constable. The region's Police Commissioner says she was chosen "following a thorough and rigorous assessment and interview process led by the Commissioner and supported by an experienced panel, made up of senior representatives from policing, politics, local government and health".

St Helens Council’s Chief Executive Kath O’Dwyer was among those on the panel.

Others on the panel included the Police Commissioner, the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner and former Chair of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) Dame Sara Thornton, the former Chief Executive of the College of Policing and HM Inspector of Constabulary Mike Cunningham, the Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, and the Director of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Professor David Lalloo.

The candidate was also required to take part in a mock media exercise which tested their communication skills, leadership and cultural and political astuteness and sensitivity through two challenging scenarios.

DCC Kennedy will now go before the Merseyside Police and Crime Panel for a confirmation hearing on March 18.

The Panel will review the selection process and consider the appointment before giving their view. The panel has the power to veto the PCC's preferred candidate.

If confirmed by the panel, DCC Kennedy will take up her appointment when Chief Constable Cooke leaves the force in April to join Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.

Ms Kennedy said: “It is an honour and a privilege as Police Commissioner to be able to appoint Merseyside Police’s next Chief Constable. It is one of the biggest decisions I have to make and I am delighted to announce Serena is my preferred candidate.

“Serena is an exceptional officer who has done an excellent job here in Merseyside as Assistant Chief Constable and as the force’s first ever female Deputy Chief Constable.

DCC Kennedy

“She has a wealth of operational experience and has demonstrated clear strategic leadership both as deputy and through this assessment process.

“I am delighted that she will be my preferred choice for the consideration of Merseyside’s Police and Crime Panel and also that I can publish on International Women’s Day, that Merseyside Police may have their first ever female Chief Constable.

“Andy Cooke has been an outstanding leader and a dedicated servant to the public of Merseyside.

"It will be a sad day when he leaves the Force in April, but I have no doubt that, if the Police and Crime Panel are content, Serena is the best person to step into those shoes and continue to ensure Merseyside Police remains one of the top performing police forces in the country.

DCC Kennedy, who grew up in nearby Ormskirk, joined Merseyside Police from Cheshire Constabulary in 2017, having started her career in neighbourhood policing at Greater Manchester Police, before working her way up to the rank of Inspector.

In 2008, she was promoted to Detective Chief Inspector with the Major Incident Team where she led teams of detectives investigating some of the most serious crimes including murders.

After two years in this role, she moved back into a uniformed role as Superintendent in charge of partnerships and local, before then returning to the Serious Crime Division as Detective Superintendent.

She then transferred on promotion to Cheshire Constabulary as head of public protection, before joining the Chief Officer team at Merseyside Police four years ago.