His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), formerly Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), has statutory responsibility for the inspection of the police forces of England and Wales, and since July 2017 the fire and rescue services of England. HMICFRS is headed by the Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Chief Inspector of Fire & Rescue Services. It has taken over the responsibilities of His Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate.
The Inspectorate is one of 5 inspectorates of the criminal justice system of England and Wales. The others are His Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation, and the Criminal Justice Joint Inspectorate.
Inspections may also be made, by invitation only, and on a non-statutory basis, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other organisations with policing responsibility.
England and Wales In England and Wales, HMICFRS is responsible to the UK Parliament. The first inspectors were appointed under the County and Borough Police Act 1856; current statutory functions are contained in the Police Act 1996 and related legislation. However, the body's principal statutory functions are unchanged since its establishment in 1856, namely to assess and report on the efficiency and effectiveness of police forces in England and Wales. In July 2017, its remit was expanded to include responsibility to assess and report on the efficiency, effectiveness and leadership of the 45 Fire & Rescue services in England.
The inspectorate is also paid by other departments to report on the activities of non-Home Office bodies involved in law enforcement, such as the British Transport Police, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, HM Revenue and Customs, the National Crime Agency, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and some overseas police forces. Reporting has also been performed on a voluntary basis for the Special Investigation Branch (SIB) of the Royal Military Police. It also receives funding from the Treasury for its work on HMRC.
As a public authority, decisions and actions of HMICFRS are susceptible to judicial review.
Personnel Sir Andy Marsh took office as HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary and HM Chief Inspector of Fire & Rescue Services on 1 October 2026. He was preceded on an interim basis by Michelle Skeer, who served from April to September 2026 following the departure of Andy Cooke. Cooke, former chief constable of Merseyside Police, held office from April 2022 to March 2026. Before Cooke, the chief inspector was former rail regulator Tom Winsor, who served from 2012 to 2022.
In addition to the Chief Inspector of Constabulary, there are three Inspectors of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services: Lee Freeman, former chief constable of Humberside Police; Kathryn Stone, former chair of the Bar Standards Board and before that Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards; Roy Wilsher, former chief fire officer in Hertfordshire. Appointments follow the Code of Practice of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
Northern Ireland Inspections of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have been made in recent years by invitation, on a non-statutory basis. The Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 allows HMIC to perform inspection and assessment of services or projects by direction of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. At the request of the chief constable of the PSNI, in 2013 the inspectorate published a report into Northern Ireland's Historical Enquiries Team.
List of chief inspectors Inspectors of Constabulary for England and Wales from 1856: Captain Francis J. Parry, to 1900 Captain Herbert D. Terry, from 1900
The first chief inspector was appointed in 1962.
Sir William Johnson, 19621963 Sir Edward Dodd, 19631966 Colonel Sir Eric St Johnston, 19671970 Sir John McKay, 19701972 Sir John Hill, 19721975 Sir James Haughton, 19761977 Sir Colin Woods, 19771979 Sir James Crane, 19791982 Sir Lawrence Byford, 19831987 Sir Richard Barrett, 19871990 Sir John Woodcock, 19901993 Sir Trefor Morris, 19931996 Sir David O'Dowd, 19962001 Sir Keith Povey 20022005 Sir Ronnie Flanagan, 20052009 Sir Denis O'Connor, 20092012 Sir Thomas Winsor, 20122022 Sir Andy Cooke, 2022March 2026 Michelle Skeer (acting), April 2026–September 2026 Sir Andy Marsh, October 2026–present
In July 2017, the role became Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Chief Inspector of Fire & Rescue Services. The incumbent is Sir Andy Marsh, who took office on 1 October 2026.
2021 protest report In March 2021, HMICFRS published a report that endorsed a proposed clampdown on protests. In response to the report, a whistleblower alleged that its authors had reached conclusions favouring the government's view prior to gathering and assessing evidence, in breach of the civil service code.
See also His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland His Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland
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