22 September 2026
Record of actions and decisions
Title: Chief Officer's Management Board - Strategic
Date: Tuesday 22 September 2026 at 1pm
Venue: Clift Room, Sutton Road HQ
Attendees
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| CC Tim Smith | Chief Constable |
| DCC Peter Ayling | Deputy Chief Constable |
| ACC Nigel Brookes | Local Policing Directorate |
| T/ACC Tracey Quiller | Central Operations Directorate |
| T/ACC Simon Thompson | Crime Directorate |
| ACC Simon Wilson | Serious Crime Directorate |
| ACO Richard Leceister | Director of HR and L&D |
| ACO Claire Medhurst | Director of Support Services Directorate |
| ACO Gavin McKinnon | Director of Corporate Communications |
| PSE Jonathan Castle | Chief Finance Officer |
| PSE Louisa Neiles | Head of Force Inspectorate |
| D/Supt Kathleen Way (item 4) | Major, Economic and Cyber Crime Det Supt |
| PSE Nicola Endacott (item 9) | Head of Intelligence & Data Analysis |
| PSE Sonya Gransden | Chief of Staff |
| Insp Neil Martin | Staff Officer to DCC |
| PSE Catherine Hughes (minutes) | Executive Assistant to CC |
| In attendance: | |
| PSE Giovanni Cacciacarro |
Senior Lawyer |
| PS Faye Murphy | Staff Officer to ACC |
1. Approval of the record from Tuesday 25 August 2026
The record of the previous meeting was approved.
2. Matters arising/action updates
There were no actions due at the meeting.
3. Risk management review update
ACO Medhurst presented the quarterly risk management review update report as previously circulated. There were no new risks or increases in score, 1 risk has reduced in score, 1 risk has moved out of scope, and 2 risks have been closed.
Chief Officers noted the paper and there were no actions or decisions.
4. Infected blood inquiry
D/Supt Way joined the meeting and presented the paper as previously shared providing an update on the national review of the Infected Blood Inquiry, Kent’s support for 3 impacted families and the continuing assessment of whether the evidence could justify a criminal investigation. D/Supt Way agreed that any change in investigative scope or resource implications will be escalated promptly to Chief Officers.
There were no actions or decisions.
5. Financial performance management update - P5
PSE Castle presented the period 5 interim report providing a high-level update at P5 (April to August) on the forecast for the current financial year. The forecasted headline figures for the financial year ending 31 March 2027 are the same as at Q1:
- (£9.9m) underspend position on service expenditure budgets
- £2.1m overspend on capital expenditure
Chief Officers noted the report and there were no decisions or actions.
6. Operation Redford and the Sentencing Act 2026
T/ACC Thompson presented the paper as previously shared, providing Chief Officers with assurance on the force’s preparedness to manage early prison releases under Operation Redford and the Sentencing Act 2026. The paper set out the process in place to receive and validate release data, assess threat, harm, risk and vulnerability, identify hidden harm, allocate ownership, and coordinate local and partnership activity.
The paper was noted and there were no actions or decisions.
7. Op Soteria self-assessment report
T/ACC Thompson presented the paper as previously shared providing an update on the force’s progress against the Operation Soteria self-assessment (2025) and subsequent NCVPP recommendations. The paper reviewed progress against the Transformation Plan, assessed the current level of assurance and identified the key areas requiring continued strategic oversight.
The paper was noted and there were no actions or decisions.
8. HMICFRS PEEL inspection AFIs
PSE Neiles presented the paper as previously shared and provided a high-level update on the eight remaining AFIs which are in progress and all rated as amber.
New action:
PSE Neiles to provide an in-depth update on the HMICFRS PEEL inspection AFIs at COMB in March 2027.
9. Strategic Coordination Group - 6 month review
This item was held in closed session and no record was taken.
10. Any other business
There was no further business for the open session.
CLOSED SESSION - no record taken
Date of next meeting
Tuesday 6 October 2026, 1pm, Clift Room.