Commissioner of Police | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Commissioner of Police | Vacant |
| Police Officer | Vacant |
| Organisation | Police Service |
| Headquarters | New Scotland Yard, Victoria Embankment, London, SW1A 2JL |
| Answers to | Home Secretary |
The Commissioner of Police leads the Police Service of UKOGB. The Commissioner sets the Service's priorities, runs its officers, and answers to the public and the Home Secretary for how the country is policed.
Contents
Policing
Police officers keep the peace, respond to crimes and investigate them. They gather evidence, interview witnesses and suspects, and can arrest people suspected of a crime. When an investigation is complete the file goes to the Crown Prosecution Service, which decides whether to charge. A suspect who is convicted in the courts of HM Courts and Tribunals Service may be fined or sent to prison.
Accountability
The police are operationally independent: the Commissioner, not ministers, decides who is investigated and arrested. The Home Secretary sets the overall policy and budget and answers to Parliament for policing.
This page was last edited on 3 November 2026.