Here's a fantastic and insightful interview with another inspiring police leader: Festus Akinbusoye. Festus served as the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner from 2021 to 2024, worked as a dedicated Special Constable clocking up 30 hours per week, and is a successful local businessman and public figure. As you can expect, this is a fascinating and insightful interview covering a lot of ground and a unique perspective, not least coming from the other side of the fence in terms of the PCC r...
Jun 26, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 5Ep. 19
This week I had the pleasure of interviewing West Midlands Police's ACC Matt Welsted for an in-depth interview. Matt is open about his career journey and hurdles faced, including the challenges of neurodiversity. He shares what forces can do to help and what neurodiverse individuals can do to help themselves too. In this wide-ranging interview, Matt also shares CPD guidance, leadership insights, and even goes deep on AI, both its current uses and the future. I'd like to thank Matt again for spar...
May 28, 2025•56 min•Season 5Ep. 16
The College of Policing updated the CVF last year, from the 2016 version to the latest 2024 version. Forces are gradually transitioning to this new framework when assessing promotion candidates, but aspiring officers remain mystified by the CVF. The language can be confusing, unclear, or have lots of overlaps. In this podcast I share information about my new 'CVF Demystified' video, which explains every competency and value and more. I also explain the context of the CVF in the podcast, how it's...
Mar 22, 2025•36 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Hot on the heels of my recent interview with Jo Shiner, I travelled onward to London for an exclusive interview with Peter O'Doherty, who is Commissioner of the City of London Police. Peter is very generous with his time and there's a lot of detail for aspiring leaders everywhere to get their teeth into. Also, if you're interested in cyber crime and cyber security, you'll want to hear what he has to say. Pete answers an array of questions about leadership, emotional awareness, his own career, ad...
Feb 19, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Last week I had the privilege of interviewing Jo Shiner, Chief Constable of Sussex Police. In this exclusive and punchy interview, Jo answers questions about women in policing, advice to aspiring officers, road safety, and much more. I'd like to thank Jo again for sparing some time from her busy schedule. I'll be posting a write-up on my policepromotion.blog soon, but for now, grab a coffee, sit back, and enjoy the show! For exclusive regular premium episodes and to support my work, please consi...
Feb 16, 2025•22 min•Season 5Ep. 4
The 29/01/2025 (not 25th as I mistakenly mention!) marks the start of the Chinese New Year, 'Year of the Snake'. This free podcast gives an advance preview and relates the symbolic traits of the snake to police leadership qualities. There's going to be more great premium content this coming year, so I recommend you subscribe to invest a little in your leadership CPD. For more exclusive regular premium episodes, please consider becoming a subscriber today and supporting my work for just £4.99 per...
Jan 26, 2025•19 min•Season 5Ep. 1
For this podcast, I travelled to Nottinghamshire to interview Inspector Jerone Taylor. Jerone was generous with his time discussing various aspects of promotion from his perspective having recently achieved his second promotion in just 3 years. We cover promotion processes, neurodiversity, relevant CPD, his approach to leadership development, Jerone's role in the Black Police Association, challenges faced in promotion, and much more. I'd like to thank Jerone again for the discussion, which I'll ...
Dec 24, 2024•47 min•Season 4Ep. 47
This week I travelled to Surrey Police HQ in Guildford to have the privilege of interviewing Chief Constable Tim De Meyer. Tim has had a long and varied policing career, joining Surrey Police as Chief in early 2023. In this exclusive interview, he provides valuable learning and many pointers for aspiring police leaders everywhere. Tim was generous with his time, answering a variety of questions thoroughly and candidly for nearly an hour. He talks on the various leadership ranks, his 'disclosure'...
Dec 14, 2024•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 46
This free episode is all about the police officer pay scales, following on from my blog. I outline the return on investment promotion brings, run through the Federation rank pay scales, compare police officer salaries across the UK, and more. -------- For regular more in-depth content targeted for your ongoing police leadership CPD like this, or if you'd just like to support my work, become a PREMIUM subscriber today for just £4.99 per month. https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...
Oct 22, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 40
CPD: Is yours continuous or sporadic? In this epic FREE podcast, I discuss how you can work on your CPD plan to get ahead when promotion opportunities arise. -------- For regular more in-depth content targeted for your ongoing police leadership CPD like this, or if you'd just like to support my work, become a PREMIUM subscriber today for just £4.99 per month. https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ranksuccess/subscribe __________ About me and Rank Success: As a coach...
Oct 09, 2024•1 hr 31 min•Season 4Ep. 38
In this podcast I share some insights following my visit on 18 Sept to the Emergency Services and Tech Show at the NEC, Birmingham. Lots of tech, gadgets and equipment featured to support emergency crews including police officers and staff. The event also included CPD, data management tools and options, and ideas and options for mental health support. Robots and all sizes of drones were there too. What took my interest were a few of the facilitated talks on stage including ‘How law enforcement c...
Sep 24, 2024•49 min•Season 4Ep. 35
Jerone has utilised Rank Success services for support through both the Sergeant and Inspector promotion process. In this free video update, I share his in-depth story in his own words, which may well resonate with you. I then offer an array of insights and guidance to help you learn from others experience and help you on your way to promotion success. -------- For regular more in-depth content targeted for your ongoing police leadership CPD like this, or if you'd just like to support my work, pl...
Aug 29, 2024•43 min•Season 4Ep. 33
Last week I had the privilege of an exclusive interview with Chief Constable Craig Guildford QPM VR DL. Craig has been Chief Constable for West Midlands Police for over 18 months, previously serving as Chief in Nottinghamshire. Like all my exclusive interviews with senior police leaders, he provides valuable learning and many pointers for aspiring police leaders everywhere. Craig kindly answers an array of questions in this 30 minutes, including his advice for aspiring officers on where to focus...
Aug 05, 2024•36 min•Season 4Ep. 29
On my recent visit to Sussex Police, I asked officers there "What makes a good leader?". In this FREE episode (accessible to subscribers first) I share the findings and the completely new leadership framework I created from the dozens of Post-it notes placed in a jar. I call it the Sussex Leadership Framework (SLF). Read more about it and a visual overview in my associated blog, but for now I hope you enjoy the episode! For regular more in-depth content targeted for your ongoing police leadershi...
Jun 24, 2024•57 min•Season 4Ep. 23
This is just a quick update about my police promotion masterclasses. __________ About me and Rank Success: As a coach/mentor supporting police promotion candidates across the UK and beyond, I aim to provide valuable and meaningful insights to help you succeed in promotion; especially those aspiring to Sergeant, Inspector and Chief Inspector. I hope you find this podcast helpful leadership CPD. Please 'pass the ladder down' and share with colleagues to support their leadership development too. As...
May 30, 2024•10 min•Season 4Ep. 18
Last week I was invited by Sussex Police Federation to present at their officer roadshow / engagement event. Many aspiring officers approached my stall and we had some good discussions about their views and concerns about promotion, leadership, and policing generally. In this debrief, I share some of those insights, my experiences of the event, and perspectives on what Sussex Police Federation are doing for their members. I'll be posting a write-up on my policepromotion.blog soon about this even...
May 22, 2024•49 min•Season 4Ep. 17
Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Chris Thompson, Treasurer and Dep Secretary of Sussex Police Federation. This followed an exciting engagement event they ran for officers at Sussex Police. It was a really interesting perspective speaking to the Federation about support for officers, including shining a light on some innovative practices here in Sussex Police. Pay and morale survey, national and local Federation issues, the role of the Federation, professional standards, supporting of...
May 21, 2024•45 min•Season 4Ep. 16
I've been busy in recent months, but am now proud to share with you the fruits of my intensive labour! So this is just a quick episode summarising the features and benefits of my BRAND NEW police promotion masterclass, which focuses on 'what works' in promotion and leadership. You can download your copy securely from my site: www.ranksuccess.co.uk Check out my YouTube channel for the trailer, extended highlights, and outtakes videos all published recently....
May 05, 2024•10 min•Season 4Ep. 14
This week I had the privilege of interviewing Acting Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, Jim Colwell. Jim has been standing in as Chief Constable for DCP since July 2023, stepping up to the position following the suspension of Will Kerr. And as another inspiring police senior leader, he doesn't disappoint, with this exclusive discussion providing valuable learning for aspiring police leaders everywhere. A lot of ground is covered in the 40 minutes, including Jim's proudest moments in p...
Apr 19, 2024•43 min•Season 4Ep. 12
Officers moving to Australia: It's the talk of the town at the moment in policing. Both in terms of how disgruntled cops are handing in their warrant cards in droves, while Australian police forces are capitalising on the opportunity to poach good officers with a move overseas. So in this FREE episode (open first to subscribers) of Season 4, it's timely I cover this issue, because Australian forces are currently hosting engagement sessions around the country to try and entice UK officers and the...
Mar 13, 2024•30 min•Season 4Ep. 7
For Episode 6 of my Year of the Dragon season, I had the pleasure of interviewing Darren Lockley, a retired Superintendent. This podcast is another inspiring interview for aspiring officers. We cover a lot of ground between his start in policing just after ‘Life on Mars’ :-) through to his fresh new start outside of policing as a senior manager more recently and after a few years enjoying retirement. Lots of insights and tips for you to listen in on, as we chat about his career experience in pol...
Mar 10, 2024•48 min•Season 4Ep. 6
For S4E3, I had the privilege of interviewing former Assistant Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, Paul Davies. I asked him a range of questions on policing and leadership, to which his responses are insightful and fascinating. We cover a range of subjects, with loads of lessons for aspiring police leaders everywhere, whether you seek promotion or lateral career development. Topics include the promotion process, his own failure in promotion and what he learned, CPD, leadership styles, ...
Feb 23, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Season 4Ep. 3
It's nearly February 2nd and another Groundhog Day! In this episode 27 of Season 3, I discuss the analogy of the infamous film starring Bill Murray, in relation to promotion preparation. I share insights about the common mistake officers make when going for promotion, plus example experiences of others which may resonate and inspire you to action in 2024. Will you be heading for six more weeks of winter? Or will you decide to put a spring in your step this year? Be first to access my podcasts, a...
Jan 19, 2024•39 min•Season 3Ep. 27
Welcome to yet another free police promotion podcast episode! In S3E16, I share my exclusive interview with another inspiring police leader, ACC Katy Barrow-Grint of Thames Valley Police. This is another with so many policing and leadership gems you won't want to miss! Love Island and golden toilets get a mention, but the main topics you'll appreciate focus around women in leadership, investigation standards, VAWG, and much more relevant to your police leadership career. I'd like to thank Katy a...
Aug 14, 2023•46 min•Season 3Ep. 16
For S3E12, I once again invited my friend Adrian to ask me some questions on police promotion and leadership matters. In this one we discuss coaching and mentoring. The initial question was about the stigma associated with it among the Federated ranks, but a lot more ground is covered than that. I hope you enjoy! The link to the book I mention by Goffee and Jones is below: https://amzn.to/3ObUFFk -------- As a coach/mentor supporting police promotion candidates across the UK and beyond, I aim to...
Jul 12, 2023•36 min•Season 3Ep. 12
For S3E5, I share a trilogy of related videos uploaded to YouTube last month, just before the Casey Review published. The themes are centred around violence against women and girls, and how VAWG may well feature on your promotion boards. You may find these audio versions helpful if you haven't seen the videos, or indeed just want a useful reminder on your commute now that the news focus has moved on to other things. First, I cover the subject of conduct and setting standards. Then I talk through...
Apr 03, 2023•31 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Season 3 of my free police promotion podcast continues strong, where I'm thrilled to share my far-reaching platform with DI Becky Davies, of Devon and Cornwall Police. Becky kindly and openly shares her story of neurodivergence, including wider perspectives on neurodiversity in policing. She talks about her struggles in achieving promotion, the barriers, but also proposes solutions. This is an audio version of her recent guest blog I've posted on my blog site, link below: https://policepromotion...
Feb 20, 2023•27 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Episode 2 of Season 3 of my free police promotion support is another BANGER! Today I had the privilege of interviewing Chief Constable Chris Noble of Staffordshire Police. I asked him a range of questions on policing and leadership, to which his responses are insightful and fascinating. There's tons of lessons here for aspiring police leaders everywhere, whether you seek promotion or lateral career development. He also shares his perspectives on controversial police matters like Performance Deve...
Feb 14, 2023•48 min•Season 3Ep. 2
In this festive video episode of my Police Promotion & Leadership podcast, I share insights and tips from a batch of recent testimonials I've received. I discuss what worked for these officers and insights as to your own learning towards not just being successful at police promotion, but putting clear blue water between you and other candidates. For example, consider the following practice promotion board question: "What's the difference between the roles of Sergeant and Inspector?" Read all...
Dec 20, 2022•20 min•Season 2Ep. 24
I have an exciting and inspiring leadership interview for you as Episode 23 of Season 2! This week I had the privilege of interviewing Chief Constable Lee Freeman of Humberside Police. Yes, that Humberside Police, recently rated the best performing force in the country by HMICFRS! I think you'll enjoy his grounded communication style and 'intelligence-led leadership' approach, as I ask him about performance, leadership, culture and more under his stewardship in Humberside Police. There's a heap ...
Dec 07, 2022•49 min•Season 2Ep. 23
