Our governance
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-17)

The main decision-making bodies of the Civil Nuclear Police Authority (CNPA).

CNPA Board

The board is a committee of the Civil Nuclear Police Authority (CNPA) mandated by the Authority to ensure that the Authority discharges its statutory responsibilities and secures the maintenance of an efficient and effective Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC). The board is primarily responsible for:
- setting the strategic, policy, resource and performance management framework for the CNC
- monitoring the overall performance of the CNC against agreed strategies and plans and agreeing remedial action as necessary
- discharging the financial duties set by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
- Approving arrangements for the governance, administration and conditions of service of the CNC.
Terms of reference for the CNPA Board (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60c0a79ad3bf7f4bcd473b14/CNPA_Board_Terms_of_Reference_-_March_2021.pdf) (PDF, 158 KB, 6 pages)

Board members

The board is made up of nine CNPA members and six CNC senior executive team members.

The CNPA members are:
- Susan Johnson OBE, Chair
- Andrew Harvey, Independent Member
- Chris Pilgrim, Independent Member
- David Tomblin, Industry Member
- Mac MacGill, Industry Member
- Alyson Armett, Industry Member
- Pam Duerden, Industry Member
- Nick Payne, Independent Member
- John Campbell, Independent Member
The CNC senior executive team members are:
- Chief Constable Simon Chesterman
- Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin
- Assistant Chief Constable, Professionalism, Kerry Smith
- Assistant Chief Constable, Operations, Michael Vance
- Assistant Chief Officer Richard Cawdron
CNPA Audit, Risk and Finance Committee

The audit, risk and finance committee keeps under review and reports to the board on the comprehensiveness, reliability and integrity of assurances given, to meet the Authority’s and the Accounting Officer’s assurance needs. The committee is responsible for all matters relating to:
- internal and external audit
- internal control and risk management
- accounting policies and actions
- financial management and scrutiny of the Annual Report and Accounts
- corporate governance requirements of the CNPA
Terms of reference for the Audit, Risk and Finance Committee (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60c0a77e8fa8f57ce58ce864/CNPA_Audit__Risk_and_Finance_Committee_Terms_of_Reference_-_March_2021.pdf) (PDF, 136 KB, 5 pages).

CNPA Senior Appointments Committee

The senior appointments committee (SAC) ensures, on behalf of the Authority, that senior appointments support its business requirements. It is primarily responsible for:
- overseeing the recruitment process and making recommendations to the Authority in respect of appointments to posts in the Senior Executive Team, and;
- recommending on matters relating to the remuneration, development and management of the CEO and the senior executive team.
Terms of Reference for the Senior Appointments Committee (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60c0a764e90e074391f93d32/CNPA_Senior_Appointments_Committee_Terms_of_Reference_-_March_2021.pdf) (PDF, 144 KB, 4 pages)

CNPA People Committee

The CNPA People Committee was established to provide objective advice, oversight and scrutiny of the CNPA/CNC People Strategy and the delivery of all corporate people-related objectives. Specifically, it is responsible for:
- oversight of the CNC’s People Strategy, policy and practice
- monitoring and scrutinising how the people strategies contribute to improved organisational performance
- reviewing, scrutinising and approving organisational change business processes, proposals and requirements
- monitoring CNC’s adherence to good practice HR governance
CNPA People Committee Terms of Reference (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60c0a7d0e90e07438a92ddc9/CNPA_People_Committee_Terms_of_Reference_-_March_2021.pdf) (PDF, 179 KB, 4 pages)

The Committee meetings are held quarterly and feed into the Authority Board meetings.