Home Secretary has announced the appointment of Roy Wilsher OBE QFSM
as a new inspector of police and fire and rescue services at the
independent inspectorate HMICFRS.
Mr Wilsher will take up the dual role of Her Majesty’s Inspector
of Constabulary in England and Wales and Inspector of Fire and
Rescue Authorities in England. He will primarily oversee
inspections in the eastern region, covering fire risk assessments
across the East Midlands and East of England.
Throughout his career, Mr Wilsher spent almost 40 years working
in the fire and rescue service. He started his career in the
London Fire Brigade in 1981, where he rose to Assistant
Commissioner, before going on to join Hertfordshire Fire and
Rescue Service in 2004. He served as the Chief Executive for the
police and crime commissioner for Hertfordshire for 4 years.
Mr Wilsher later became the inaugural chair of the newly formed
National Fire Chiefs’ Council (NFCC) in 2017. The NFCC is the
professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service, and Mr
Wilsher’s role involved providing support to firefighters and
staff, giving professional advice to Fire Service Management
Committee, and working with the Home Office and devolved
administrations.
He was awarded the OBE in 2007 and the Queen’s Fire Service Medal
in 2013. Mr Wilsher will be the first Chief Fire Officer to be
appointed as an inspector at HMICFRS.
Mr Wilsher is currently serving as an independent advisor to the
Home Office on fire policy. He will leave this role before taking
up his appointment at HMICFRS.
Home Secretary, said:
I’m pleased to welcome Roy to this important role, where he
will play a vital part in ensuring that our police forces and
fire and rescue services provide the excellent service that the
British public deserve.
Roy has amassed a wealth of experience from many roles across
the fire service – from the guidance and support he’s provided
to officers, to his role in advising the government during
major incidents and I know he will be an excellent addition to
HMICFRS.
On being appointed, Mr Wilsher said:
I am extremely proud to be appointed by Her Majesty to the
Inspectorate. I have always looked to improve public services
for the benefit of all our diverse communities and will look to
do the same in this role.
I am really looking forward to working with new colleagues and
want to pay tribute to my predecessor, Zoë Billingham. Zoë has
done an excellent job and will be a hard act to follow.
Mr Wilsher was selected following a stringent recruitment
process, which followed the Office of the Commissioner for Public
Appointments (OCPA) Code of Practice.
HMICFRS inspectors are then appointed by Her Majesty The Queen on
the advice of the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister.
Mr Wilsher will take up his duties in the autumn.
