5 May 2026
Record of actions and decisions
Title: Chief Officer's Management Board - Strategic
Date: Tuesday 5 May 2026 at 1pm
Venue: Clift Room, Sutton Road HQ
Attendees
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| CC Tim Smith (Chair) | 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 | Head of Crime |
| DCS Morgan Cronin | Rep. Serious Crime Directorate |
| ACO Richard Leicester | Director of HR and L&D |
| ACO Gavin McKinnon | Director of Communications |
| ACO Claire Medhurst | Director of Support Services Directorate |
| PSE Jonathan Castle | Chief Finance Officer |
| PSE Gavin Griffiths (item 3) | Force Crime & Incident Registrar |
| PSE Louisa Neiles (item 4) | Head of Inspectorate |
| PSE Kirstin Taylor (vc, item 7) | Head of Employee Relations |
| PSE Stephanie Shea (item 8) | Head of Estates |
| PSE Sonya Gransden | Chief of Staff |
| DI Neil Martin | Staff Officer to DCC |
| PSE Karen Sandland | Staff Officer to ACO Medhurst |
| PSE Catherine Hughes (minutes) | Executive Assistant to CC |
Apologies
- ACC Simon Wilson
1. Approval of the record from Tuesday 21 April 2026
The record of the previous meeting was approved.
2. Matters arising/action updates
06/26 – ACO Medhurst advised the IT Strategy was broadly agreed at TCOB on 5 May with final ratification of the agreed amendments scheduled with the two DCCs on 29 May. Action discharged.
07/26 – carried forward to 19 May
08/26 – the update was noted and the action discharged
3. 2026/27 audit calendar
PSE Griffiths presented the paper as previously shared seeking Chief Officer approval of the Data Audit Team (DAT) Audit Calendar for 2026/27 which will provide the formal assurance framework for crime recording, data quality, and outcome application across the force.
The proposed approach reflects learning from DAT activity during 2025/26 and the evolving HMICFRS inspection methodology, ensuring Kent Police remains inspection ready while targeting the areas of greatest organisational risk.
Decision:
Chief Officers approved the Data Audit Team Audit Calendar for 2026/27, authorising its publication and implementation as the Force’s crime recording assurance framework for the forthcoming year
4. 2026/2027 Inspectorate calendar
PSE Neiles presented the paper setting out the proposed inspection calendar for 2026/27 noting this is an evolving plan and subject to change to incorporate HMICFRS notifications and other areas of note.
Chief Officers discussed the proposed calendar, capacity to include additional inspections in areas of particular focus and prioritisation.
Decision:
Chief Officers agreed to the proposed inspection calendar for 2026/27.
5. Red Dot Sighting System
T/ACC Quiller presented the paper as previously shared seeking approval to adopt Red Dot Sights (RDS) on self-loading pistols (SLPs) to improve accuracy, officer safety and situational awareness, and to align with national best practice. The proposal is supported by the Chief Firearms Instructor (CFI) and the 7 Force Collaboration.
Decision:
Chief Officers approved the implementation of RDS and the release capital replacement funds of £73,031.
6. Finance capital budgets quarterly review
PSE Castle presented the paper and supporting bid documents as previously shared. Chief Officers considered the bids and the following were approved:
- North Kent Lifecycle works - £330,304
- North Kent CCTV - £105,636
- Sutton Road Phase 2 - £350,000 in 2026/27
- County room air handling installation - £55,000* (approved subject to PSE Castle’s scrutiny and validation of the quote provided)
Updates on the following two previously discussed and approved items were also noted:
- Ashford Compass House DIR
- Never Forgotten / Virtual Memorial v3
New action 09/26:
PSE Castle to provide CC Smith with an update on the schedule of works for the KPC Lecture Theatre.
7. Paid carers leave
PSE Taylor presented the paper as previously shared following a request by the Police Federation and the Superintendents Association that the force offers 5 days paid carers leave to police officers.
Having carefully considered the views expressed by stakeholders and recognising the importance of supporting officers with caring responsibilities, the specific legal advice received confirms that, under the current Police Regulations and Determinations, paid carers leave for police officers cannot lawfully be implemented; accordingly, it was not recommended that such payments are adopted at this time, as doing so would be ultra vires. It was noted, however, that the NPCC National Reward Team has submitted a formal request to the Home Secretary to amend the police regulations, and this matter will be kept under review through the quarterly Legislative Board should the regulatory framework change.
Decision:
Chief Officers agreed not to pay carers leave to officers at this time.
8. Estates update
PSE Castle presented the paper as previously shared providing a quarterly update for Estate & Facilities Services highlighting improvements in compliance rates and ongoing fire safety works.
PSE Shea provided an update on the Estates Strategy noting delivery is planned for 31 December 2026. Engagement workshops and governance discussions are in place to ensure alignment with organisational priorities.
9. Chief Officer all out day feedback
Chief Officers provided verbal updates on their observations during visits to Support Services Directorate teams across both counties on 14 April, in the following areas:
- DCC Ayling – Estates, Sutton Road
- ACO Leicester – Uniform Stores, Sutton Road
- ACC Wilson (DCS Cronin presented) – Fleet workshop, Quarry Wood
- CC Smith and ACO Medhurst – Business Centre, Great Dunmow
Feedback forms have been submitted to the DCC’s office for review of recurring themes and the extraction of any actions. The chief constable thanked Chief Officers for their valuable feedback.
10. Any other business
There was no further business for the open session.
CLOSED SESSION - no record taken
Date of next meeting
Tuesday 19 May 2026, 1pm, Clift Room.