Speakers

Assistant Chief Constable Tom Harding is the College of Policing’s Director of Operational Standards and the Public Safety and Risk portfolio. He joined the College in July 2023 from Gwent police.

Tom has always had an interest in policing and became a special constable with Leicestershire Police while he studied law at Leicester University. He qualified as a solicitor in 2006 and worked for one of Europe's largest law firms before deciding to join his home force of West Mercia as a police officer in 2008.
 
He has worked across a range of uniform and detective roles up to the rank of Assistant Chief Constable.  Some of Tom’s proudest achievements are leading and supporting work to tackle Child Criminal Exploitation as the divisional commander for Telford & Wrekin and the development of an acquisitive crime strategy (We Don’t Buy Crime). Both pieces of work have been recognised nationally.  
Tom is a Strategic Firearms Commander, Gold Public Order Commander and champion of problem solving. He has a passion for supporting and leading community-focused policing.

As a Director at the College, Tom’s portfolio covers all areas of operational policing. His team share knowledge and good practice, setting the standards in policing to build and preserve public trust and confidence. Recent examples of this work include changes and improvements to the Code of Ethics, vetting, public order guidance, public and personal safety training, firearms licensing, and the introduction of an Op Soteria joint unit with the NPCC and Home Office, to improve the policing response to rape and sexual offences.