Cumbria Constabulary’s current chief constable is set to move to Merseyside.
Rob Carden has been named by Emily Spurrell, Merseyside police and crime commissioner, as her preferred candidate for the role of that force’s chief constable.
Subject to approval by Merseyside’s Police and Crime Panel, Rob will replace Serena Kennedy in September, following her decision to retire.
Before joining Cumbria Constabulary as deputy chief constable in 2022, Rob had spent the majority of his career in Merseyside. He joined the force in 1992 following in his father’s footsteps.
During his time with Merseyside Police, he was Gold Commander for the successful repatriation of British nationals in Wuhan Province, China, to Arrowe Park Hospital, Merseyside.
He managed Merseyside’s response to all phases of the Covid pandemic and received a national commendation for outstanding leadership and his overall contribution to the policing response to Covid.
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.
Rob will now go before the Merseyside Police and Crime Panel for a confirmation hearing on May 12.
The panel will review the selection process and consider the appointment before giving their view. The panel has the power to veto the commissioner’s preferred candidate.
She said: “Rob is a very experienced officer who has already dedicated 20 years of his career serving the people of Merseyside, leading on a number of extremely high-profile and challenging incidents.
“He has done an excellent job as chief constable of Cumbria Constabulary and will bring a wealth of operational experience and a clear passion for policing to the role.
“Serena has been an outstanding leader and a dedicated servant to the public of Merseyside, and I am very sorry she is leaving the force, but I’m confident that with Rob taking over the role we can ensure a smooth transition, ensuring Merseyside Police remains one of the top performing police forces in the country.
“Subject to the consideration of Merseyside’s Police and Crime Panel, I am pleased he will continue Serena’s excellent work delivering the best possible policing service for our local communities.”
Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen, said: “I want to congratulate Rob Carden on him being named preferred candidate.
“Whilst I have known Rob for just under a year, I have been incredibly impressed with his drive, enthusiasm and ambition for Cumbria Constabulary.
“Without a doubt, Rob has turned the force’s performance around and we are now consistently one of the top performing forces in the country.
“This includes an exceptionally good HMICFRS peel inspection in July 2024, with one outstanding grade, six good and two adequate grades with only a few areas identified for improvement.
“Every chief constable should be an outstanding operational police officer and Rob absolutely emulates this.
“He has successfully overseen as chief constable, a number of competing public safety events, such as: Appleby Horse Fair, Dave’s Day and the Great North Swim. These all occurred on the same day last year and the constabulary met that challenge exceptionally well.
“Rob Carden has been a phenomenal chief constable here in Cumbria. To be recommended as chief constable of the force that he started his career in, in which his father also served is a great achievement and will bring huge pride to his family.
“The process regarding Rob’s recruitment into Merseyside is ongoing and will run alongside a recruitment process for his replacement in Cumbria in due course.”
Rob said: “I am sincerely grateful to have had the privilege of being a member of Cumbria Constabulary over the last three years and to have led it as chief constable for the last two years.
“I am very proud of what we have achieved together and the national reputation we have built as an outstanding force.
“Cumbria Constabulary is a family, which is full of amazing public servants dedicated to keeping our communities across Cumbria safe.
“If my move to Merseyside is confirmed later this year, I am confident that Cumbria Constabulary will continue to be an outstanding service, serving communities across Cumbria.
“I will do all I can to support the force in the coming months ahead whilst I am still chief constable.”
