Governance – Police Digital Service

Articles of Association

The Police Digital Service Articles of Association set out governance arrangements to include a Board of Directors comprising of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), representatives of other policing governance bodies, representatives from Operational Policing at Chief Officer level and representatives of the Home Office.

The Police Digital Service Board has been meeting at least quarterly to provide strategic direction and to review progress against our business plan, financial report, performance report and risk register. An opportunity to review the performance of the PDS and endorse the business plan and budget for the forthcoming year is provided at the Annual General Meeting.

Who’s on our Board?

The Police Digital Service Board consists of Police and Crime Commissioners, a representative from the “other policing governance bodies”, plus representatives from Operational Policing at Chief Officer level and the Home Office.

In addition, the Police Digital Service regularly engages with members at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ General Meetings and regional meetings which take place throughout the year, to ensure Members are informed of the work of the PDS and that this work is adding value.

Read the 2023-2024 PDS Annual Report

David Allen, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria and Chairman of the Board

David started service as a Police Constable in Carlisle in 1986 and served throughout Cumbria at various ranks until 2000 when seconded to what eventually became the National Crime Agency.

He worked nationally and internationally (from Head of Anti Corruption Command to International Liaison Officer based abroad) and headed up the UK’s Interpol, Europol, Sirene, CEOP referral and Fugitives Bureau. Responsible for integrating the UK into the SIS2 database.

David retired from policing in 2016 and worked as Deputy Head of HR at a busy Acute Hospital Trust until he was elected in May 2024 to PFCC for Cumbria.

Simon Bourne, Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer - Home Office

Simon joined the Home Office in September 2020 and is the Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer (CDDaTO). Prior to joining the Home Office, Simon spent six years as the Chief Information Officer for the Co-op Group. He has over 30 years of experience of digital and technology leadership roles, working in both financial services and retail sectors.

As the Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer (CDDaTO), Simon is accountable

for the delivery of digital, data and technology solutions that support the department’s current operations and future business transformation programmes. These cover both core Home Office operations as well as delivery of national law enforcement capabilities.

Simon gained a Masters in Mathematics from Cambridge University. He is married with two children and lives in West Yorkshire.

Rob Carden, Chair of National Police Chiefs' Council's Digital, Data and Technology Coordination Committee

Rob Carden joined Merseyside Police in 1992, following in his father’s footsteps. Whilst the majority of Rob’s career has been spent in Merseyside, he has also worked for Sussex Police.

He was the programme lead for a Tri-Force Collaboration involving Merseyside, North Wales and Cheshire aimed at delivering a shared Niche platform as an enabler for operational collaboration. As part of this work, he was awarded £2.24m of police innovation funding and recognised by the Home Office for delivering one of the first technically enabled operational collaborations in the country.

Rob was Gold Commander for the successful repatriation of British nationals in Wuhan Province, China, to Arrowe Park Hospital, Merseyside. As the first major operation linked to Covid in the country, the operation helped to shape the national policing response to Covid. He went on to manage Merseyside’s response to all phases of the COVID pandemic, implementing business continuity measures to sustain core operational functionality. He subsequently received a national commendation for outstanding leadership and his overall contribution to the policing response to Covid.

Rob has a wide range of command experience including Gold Command for the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting, the largest security operation hosted in Merseyside and Gold Command for the Grand National (Aintree Fesitval), on four occasions. Rob has also been a Counter Terrorism Commander and was the strategic firearms commander for the high-level policing operation that followed the terrorist incident at the Women’s Hospital in Liverpool.

Rob joined Cumbria Constabulary in 2022 on promotion to Deputy Chief Constable where he has led a programme of change incorporating a full restructure of the force. He then became Chief Constable of Cumbria Constabulary on the 1st August 2023.

He is is the NPCC lead for Digital, Data and Technology Coordination Committee and Response Policing. He is also a member of the National Wellbeing Board and the Digital Public Contact Board.

Andrew Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales

Andy Dunbobbin was elected the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales on 6 May 2021; he officially took office on 13 May 2021.

Mr Dunbobbin is from Connah’s Quay where he lives with his wife, son and daughter.

Mr Andy Dunbobbin is a County Councillor for Flintshire County Council for the Connah’s Quay Golftyn ward but will be stepping down in May 2022, he will continue to be a member of the Connah’s Quay Town Council.

Mr Andy Dunbobbin said that “winning the election was one of the proudest moments of my life. I am passionate about providing a public service and I vow to represent everyone in North Wales, regardless of their political affiliations”.

Tessa Dwyer, Co-opted Director

Tessa Dwyer is a chartered accountant and change management specialist whose career in financial services has spanned investment banking, audit and private equity. She also sits on the board of two charities – Sustrans and CORE Clapton (the Centre for Osteopathic Research and Excellence).

Having grown up in South Africa, with its history of inequality, she is particularly passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion (D, E & I) and looks forward to bringing an independent perspective to the board and supporting and promoting the PDS D, E & I agenda.

Tony Eastaugh CBE, Interim CEO for Police Digital Service

Tony Eastaugh CBE joins the Police Digital Service board as Interim CEO of the Police Digital Service. Tony brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles, including Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner for England & Wales and Director General at the Home Office.

As Interim CEO, Tony will steer PDS using his extensive background in law enforcement, policing, and technology. He will focus on overseeing the organisation’s corporate strategy and business plan while ensuring effective collaboration with policing and other key stakeholders.

Jonathan Evison, Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside

Jonathan Evison is the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC)
for the Humberside Police force area, a role he was re-elected to in 2024. He serves a four-year term of office, the next election is in 2028.

Jonathan served as a ward councillor on North Lincolnshire Council for eleven years, he was Chair of the Humberside Police and Crime Panel
for six years and had other roles within the Council including Ambassador for Steel and Heavy Industry, Vice Chair of Planning, scrutiny chairs and Mayor for two years.
In addition Jonathan served his community as a Barton Town Councillor for eighteen years.

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex

Roger Hirst became the first Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner in October 2017 and continues to work nationally and locally to build stronger links between emergency services and help create more secure communities.
Prior to his election as Commissioner, Roger Hirst was Cabinet Member at Essex County Council with responsibility for Community Safety; Deputy Leader of Brentwood Borough Council; and has 33 years’ experience as a senior investment banker.

Hugh Ind, Chief Executive of British Transport Police Authority

Hugh joined the BTPA in June 2019. Prior to this he worked as Director General at the Cabinet Office where he led work on driving the integration of new style apprenticeships into workforce plans across the public sector.

He worked in the civil service for 27 years. He has significant experience in leading the delivery of law enforcement operations under public scrutiny as well as in leading policy change and legislation. He was Director General of Immigration Enforcement 2016-18 and was Strategic Director for the UK Asylum System 2008-12. He had lead responsibility for the development and introduction of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, building on involvement with policing legislation going as far back as the Police and Magistrates Courts Act 1994. He also spent time as Principal Private Secretary to Tessa Jowell at Dept for Culture, Media and Sport 2001-4.

Donna Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire

Donna Jones was elected as Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight on 6 May 2021, achieving 312,993 of the votes cast across the two counties. Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary is one of the largest police force areas in the country. In 2024, Donna was re-elected as Police and Crime Commissioner with a 70,000 majority.

Donna was the youngest member of the judiciary in England and Wales when she was appointed to the South East Hampshire (Magistrates) Bench in October 2005. She served as a bench chair for 16 years until she was elected as Police and Crime Commissioner. This has helped her develop a strong background in criminal justice.

From 2014-2018 Donna was the first woman to be elected the Leader of Portsmouth City council in Hampshire, presiding over a £780million budget. During this time she received national recognition for the commercial approach she brought to the running of the city council, generating millions of pounds of income each year. She has a thorough understanding of managing public sector finances; of generating new income and removing wastage from outdated contracts ensuring your taxes are spent wisely.

As well as being the PCC for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Donna previously led on the national Victims and Serious Organised Crime portfolios for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, before taking up the role of the Chair in July 2023.

Donna is also a non-executive director on the board of the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, helping to shape the Chamber’s strategic growth as the county’s independent voice of businesses.

Bethan Page-Jones, Head of the National Police Capabilities Unit - Home Office

Bethan has spent over 15 years working in policing. As a career civil servant who has spanned spending reviews, bill management, strategy roles and private office work, she was seconded to the National Policing Improvement Agency where she headed up work on value for money in policing. Following that she spent many years in HMICFRS, inspecting police efficiency, police effectiveness and police response to domestic abuse, returning to the Home Office to work in policing policy. At the moment her role is focused on ensuring the Home Office is commissioning the capabilities needed to deliver its policing, public protection and crime reduction agenda.

Simon Parr QPM, Senior Responsible Officer Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme - Home Office

Simon Parr QPM was appointed Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) of the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) in March 2021. Prior to this he was the Deputy Programme Director in the National Enabling Programme, helping police forces across England and Wales to transform the way they work and collaborate. As SRO for the programme he is responsible to Parliament for ensuring that ESN is delivered.

Simon is a former Chief Constable with over 32 years of operational policing experience. Simon spent he first 20 years of his career with Sussex Police, during which time he was head of control rooms department and also commander of East Downs Division.

As Chief Constable for Cambridgeshire from September 2010 through to 2015. He worked to transform his organisation into a policing service that meets the public’s needs for the 21^st century. He led a five-year programme of cultural change and leadership development that led to very high rating in a report by Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary into efficiency, effectiveness and legitimacy. From April 2013 until his retirement in July 2015 he was the UK ‘s national policing lead for Information Management, working with partners to ensure all of UK policing had the ability to work digitally, and take full advantage of smart and mobile technology. This included, from 2013 to his retirement, working as the UK policing senior user in the early days of the ESMCP programme.

Darryl Preston, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Darryl Preston was elected Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough on 6 May 2021 and officially took post on 13 May 2021.
Darryl has proudly served as both a front line police officer and a senior detective for 30 years (10 years in the Met and 20 years in Cambridgeshire).

After retiring from the force, he joined the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners as a senior official where he developed strategic positions and lobbied Government on topics such as serious violence, economic crime and sexual offences legislation.

Darryl’s knowledge, skills and experience will enable him to progress his Police and Crime Plan, through holding Cambridgeshire Constabulary to account for their performance. This includes bringing agencies together and listening to the views and concerns of the public and local communities.

Gavin Stephens QPM, Chief Constable for National Police Chiefs' Council

Gavin was elected to the Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) in 2022 and took up the role in April 2023, having served in Surrey Police from Constable to Chief Constable.

As Chair of NPCC Gavin is responsible for ensuring strong co-ordination and collaboration across UK Policing, including British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. Policing practices across the UK are held together by strong principles and values, which are rooted in policing by consent. Working together with the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the College of Policing, His Majesty’s Inspectorate, the National Crime Agency, and many other public and voluntary bodies, Gavin ensures NPCC contributes to a shared vision of achieving the must trusted and engaged policing service in the world, by making communities safer and stronger.

Gavin is the Senior Responsible Officer for the national Police Race Action Plan. He is a Director of BlueLight Commercial and Police Digital Services. He chairs the Boards of the Criminal Records Office, and Police Crime Prevention Initiatives. He is a trustee of the charity Police Care UK, and chairs the Board of Trustees for Police Arboretum Memorial Trust. He is a patron of the Police Mutual Assurance Society.

In his former role as Chief Constable of Surrey, Gavin was chair of the NPCC Finance Coordination Committee and NPCC Communications Advisory Group. Prior to that he was NPCC lead for Neighbourhood Policing and chaired the committee to produce the College of Policing Guidelines on Modernising Neighbourhood Policing.

Born and bred in Hartlepool on the North East coast, Gavin studied engineering and management studies at the University of Cambridge and worked for GEC Marconi Research as a sponsored student. Upon graduation he joined Cambridgeshire Constabulary, then transferred to Surrey Police in 1996. He worked across a wide variety of roles including Head of Serious & Organised Crime, Professional Standards, and often returned to his passion of Neighbourhood Policing.