Rob Carden has today been confirmed as Merseyside Police’s next Chief Constable after his appointment by the Police and Crime Commissioner was approved by the region’s Police and Crime Panel.
Emily Spurrell announced two weeks ago that Rob, who is currently Chief Constable at Cumbria Constabulary and who has more than 30 years policing experience, was her preferred choice to take over the top role in Merseyside after Serena Kennedy KPM, retires on 31st August.
The Commissioner’s decision was referred to the Police and Crime Panel, which considered the appointment at a confirmation hearing yesterday (12th May 2025). The hearing, which was livestreamed to enable members of the public to observe, gave Panel members the opportunity to review the recruitment and selection process, assess the supporting documents and interview Chief Constable Carden in person.
The Panel, which is made up of elected and independent members from across Merseyside, had the power to either ratify or veto the Commissioner’s proposed candidate. Members unanimously approved the PCC’s decision that Chief Constable Carden was the right person to take over the job.
Commenting on the Panel’s endorsement, Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “I am very pleased that the Panel has approved my selection of Rob Carden to be the next Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, and my warmest congratulations go to him on his appointment.
“Rob first joined Merseyside Police in 1992 and, during his career, has spent more than 20 years serving the people of Merseyside before moving to Cumbria Constabulary on promotion as Deputy Chief Constable and subsequently being appointed Chief Constable.
“This means he fully understands the unique challenges of policing our region and has the leadership experience and clear strategic thinking needed to maintain the exceptional reputation and standards of Merseyside Police and to drive the organisation forward.
“Throughout the interview process he impressed both me and the interview panel with his vision for the organisation, his operational knowledge and insight and his dedication and passion for policing.
“Rob has exceptional experience, is very well respected in the policing community and has shown his ability to lead in some very challenging situations. He has clearly demonstrated the qualities needed to ensure that Merseyside Police remains one of the best performing urban forces in the country and continues to deliver the high quality of policing that people here on Merseyside expect and deserve.
“Rob will be a fantastic ambassador for both Merseyside Police and our region, and I am grateful to the Panel for its endorsement of my decision today.
“Rob’s appointment ensures there will be a smooth transition when Serena leaves Merseyside Police at the end of August, giving the organisation the stability and direction it needs and ensuring it is in a strong position deliver the best possible policing service for our communities. I look forward to working with Rob to deliver my police and crime priorities for our region.”
Chief Constable Rob Carden said: “I am thrilled to have been appointed as the next Chief Constable of Merseyside Police.
“My father served Merseyside Police for over 33 years, and I was extremely proud to follow in his footsteps when I joined the organisation in 1992. To now be returning to the organisation as Chief Constable and to lead the organisation which has been such a big part of my family, is a genuine honour and privilege.
“Merseyside Police is already an outstanding organisation, which is rightly recognised as one of the best police services in the country. I am committed to building on Serena’s legacy and ensuring I lead a workforce which takes pride in delivering an excellent service to our communities, protecting those who are vulnerable, keeping our streets safe and ensuring offenders face justice.
“I look forward to working with the Police and Crime Commissioner and the outstanding officers, PCSOs, staff and volunteers to ensure Merseyside Police is an organisation that all our communities have trust and confidence in and continues to evolve to meet the challenges of modern policing.”
The appointment has also been welcomed by the Chief Constable, Serena Kennedy KPM, who said: “I am delighted that the Police & Crime Panel has confirmed Rob as the next Chief Constable of Merseyside Police.
“Rob, who is from Liverpool, followed in his father’s footsteps when he joined Merseyside Police back in 1992. He then joined Sussex Police before returning to Merseyside in 2006.
“During his time at Merseyside Rob was a respected leader, who as Assistant Chief Constable managed the force response to COVID pandemic and was Gold Commander for numerous events and incidents, including the terrorist incident at Liverpool Women’s Hospital. I know he is passionate about the force and providing the people of Merseyside with a first-class police service and I wish him every success for the future.”
Chief Constable Carden was selected as the Police Commissioner’s preferred candidate following a rigorous assessment and interview process which included an interview, presentation and mock media exercise, all designed to test his communication skills, leadership and cultural and political astuteness and sensitivity.
The Police and Crime Commissioner was supported by an experienced panel made up of senior representatives from policing, politics and the third sector, including the Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, former Chief Constable of Gwent Police Pam Kelly and Chief Executive Officer at the Anthony Walker Foundation Kaushik Mistry. The process was observed by Chair of the Merseyside Police and Crime Panel, Cllr Barbara Murray.
During his time with Merseyside Police, Chief Constable Carden was Gold Commander for the successful repatriation of British nationals in Wuhan Province, China, to Arrowe Park Hospital, Merseyside. He went on to manage Merseyside’s response to all phases of the COVID pandemic and subsequently received a national commendation for outstanding leadership and his overall contribution to the policing response to Covid.
Chief Constable Carden also led the largest security operation hosted in Merseyside at the time, the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting and he was Gold Command for the Grand National on four occasions. He has also been a Counter Terrorism Commander and he was the strategic firearms commander for the high-level policing operation that followed the terrorist incident at the Women’s Hospital in Liverpool.
Whilst the majority of Chief Constable Carden’s career has been spent in Merseyside, he has also worked for Sussex Police, policing the 2002 Fatboy Slim concert which was attended by more than 250,000 people on Brighton beach.
Chief Constable Carden currently Chairs the National Police Chief’s Council’s national Digital, Data and Technology Coordination Committee, which is in place to ensure the best use of technology and data to maximise public safety, security, and value for money. He has also been the national lead for Response Policing and Dangerous Dogs and was a member of the National Wellbeing Board and the Digital Public Contact Board.
During his time at Cumbria Constabulary, the force was recognised as one of the top performing in the country and was graded as outstanding for ‘Building, supporting and protecting the workforce’ by independent inspectors from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS).
Rob, who is married with three sons, has two Masters degrees, the second of which was from Cambridge University, where he won the Victor Lissack Award from the Institute of Criminology.
In a letter confirming Rob’s appointment, the Chair of Merseyside’s Police and Crime Panel Cllr Barbara Murray wrote: “The Panel Members were impressed with how Mr Carden conducted himself during the hearing and in particular his enthusiasm for innovation, openness to change underpinned by the effective use of data and his desire to use public resources wisely to meet local needs.
“We felt he demonstrated the values and commitment that would serve him well in the role as Merseyside’s Chief Constable. In addition, the Panel wished to place on record its satisfaction with the openness and transparency of the recruitment process carried out for this position.”
Chief Constable Carden will be appointed for a period of five years.
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