His Majesty's Chief Inspector
In the United Kingdom, His Majesty's Chief Inspector (formerly Her Majesty's Chief Inspector), or simply HM Chief Inspector, is the head of an inspectorate. They are often appointed from outside the organisation over which they have oversight.
List of chief inspectors
| Chief inspector | Organisation | Year position created | Incumbent | Start date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland | Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland | 2003 | Jacqui Durkin | 30 November 2019 |
| Chief Nuclear Inspector | Office for Nuclear Regulation | 2013 | Mark Foy | 2017 |
| Chief Planning Inspector | Planning Inspectorate | Richard Schofield | May 2022 | |
| HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (England and Wales) | HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services | 1856 | Andy Cooke[1] | 1 April 2022 |
| HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland | HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland | 1857 | Gill Imery | April 2018 |
| HM Chief Inspector of Crown Premises Fire Safety | Crown Premises Fire Safety Inspectorate[2] | Peter Holland[3] | 28 January 2013 | |
| HM Chief Inspector of Drinking Water | Drinking Water Inspectorate | 1990 | Marcus Rink | 22 July 2015 |
| HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales | Estyn | 1907 | Owen Evans[4] | January 2022 |
| HM Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills (England) | Ofsted | 1992 | Martyn Oliver[5] | 1 January 2024 |
| HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services (Scotland) | His Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland | 2005 | Martyn Emberson[6] | January 2016 |
| HM Chief Inspector of Mines | Health and Safety Executive | 1908 | Dan Mitchell | 20 January 2020 |
| HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (England and Wales) | HM Inspectorate of Prisons | 1981 | Charlie Taylor | November 2020 |
| HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in Scotland | HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland | 1979 | David Strang | June 2013 |
| HM Chief Inspector of Probation | HM Inspectorate of Probation | 1936 | Dame Glenys Stacey[7] | March 2016 |
| HM Chief Inspector of Railways | His Majesty's Railway Inspectorate | 1840 | Richard Hines | June 2024 |
| HM Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service (England and Wales) | His Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate[8] | 1986 | Anthony Rogers[9] | 31 January 2025 |
| Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration | Independent (reports to Home Office) | 2007 | David Bolt | 3 June 2024 |
Dissolved appointments
| Chief inspector | Years active | Final incumbent |
|---|---|---|
| HM Senior Chief Inspector of Education (Scotland) | 1840 to 2011 | Bill Maxwell |
| HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations | 1959[10] to 2013 | Mike Weightman |
References
- ^ "Andy Cooke QPM DL". His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) – Home. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- ^ "Crown Premises Fire Safety Inspectorate". GOV.UK. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ Levin, Catherine (21 December 2020). "Inspecting the Crown". Fire Magazine. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- ^ Wightwick, Abbie (23 July 2021). "Man who was expelled from school is now Wales' chief inspector of schools". Wales Online. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- ^ "Sir Martyn Oliver". GOV.UK. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- ^ Davidson, Jenni (18 January 2016). "New chief inspector of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service appointed". Holyrood. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ "Chief Inspector and Senior Management Team". Criminal Justice Inspectorates. 2 September 2015. Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ "HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate - Home". www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ "Anthony Rogers appointed new Chief Inspector of HMCPSI". GOV.UK. 31 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- ^ "Inspectorates". History of Occupational Safety and Health. Retrieved 27 October 2025.