CBE honour for former Chief Constable Rob Nixon

Congratulations from Leicestershire Police to our former Chief Constable Rob Nixon who has been awarded a CBE in His Majesty the King’s New Year Honours List.

The honour, which is for services to policing and criminal justice, recognises Mr Nixon’s 32-year career in the force as well as the national role which he took on in 2023 as the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) lead for criminal justice.

Former Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police Rob Nixon

Speaking today, Mr Nixon, who retired from his roles in March 2025, described the news as “deeply humbling”.

Reflecting on the recognition, he also paid tribute to “exceptional” colleagues and partners who he has worked alongside.

He said: “I am truly honoured and deeply humbled to receive this CBE. The last few years working as both Chief Constable and the NPCC lead for criminal justice were hugely demanding but also incredibly rewarding. Every agency was under immense pressure with rising workloads, increasing complexity, the growing impact of digital evidence and the long-term effects of austerity which were all combining to place real strain on people and processes. Backlogs, prison capacity challenges and the need for frequent national Gold group meetings became part of daily life.

“But what stands out from me most from that period is the people I was very privileged to work with. This included exceptional colleagues across policing and the wider criminal justice system as well as partner services who were all deeply committed to keeping a stretched system working for the public.

“While I am proud to have played my part, achievements of this scale are never about one individual They depend on collective leadership, collaboration and goodwill beyond formal authority. I am hugely grateful to my fellow NPCC Chiefs and their teams, the Criminal Justice Chief Constables’ Committee, Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson, Director General of Legal Delivery for the Crown Prosecution Service Grace Ononiwu, former Chief Executive of HM Prison and Probation Service Amy Rees and Chief Executive of HM Courts and Tribunals Service Nick Goodwin for their openness and partnership as well as my outstanding CJ support team Dom Holmes, Jonathan Dickens and Kim Morris whose commitment and professionalism were exceptional.

“I also want to thank the entire Leicestershire Police team for their constant support during a period that involved a great deal of time away and, most importantly, my family whose understanding and encouragement meant everything.

“To know that others have taken the time to recognise this contribution leaves me truly thankful and proud to have worked alongside so many dedicated people.

Serving as Chief Constable from March 2022 to March 2025, Mr Nixon’s work also saw him lead the force through significant transformation and change despite an incredibly challenging budget situation. This included seeing the force introduce leading-edge technologies for policing including cloud infrastructure and AI capabilities as well as creating a Prevention Directorate to focus on tackling and preventing the root causes of crime. The establishment of a nationally recognised academy has also placed Leicestershire at the forefront of officer training.

He also led the force in responding effectively and quickly to disorder in east Leicester in 2022 and in reorganising locally to invest in stronger and more visible police leadership in neighbourhoods.

In addition, during his time in the force, Mr Nixon took responsibility to oversee a review and restructuring of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) and also led partnership work through some of the area’s most challenging crises in recent years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, as its strategic co-ordination lead, and later the Chair of the Local Resilience Forum.

Since retiring, Mr Nixon has continued to raise funds in partnership with The Ian and Clare Mattioli Charitable Trust to refurbish the Memorial Garden at Police Headquarters which is dedicated to the memory of all officers who have lost their lives in the service of Leicestershire Police.  

At the time of announcing his retirement, Mr Nixon, who was awarded a Queen’s Police Medal in December 2020, said: "Leading the force I joined as a constable has been the honour of a lifetime. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege to work alongside some incredible people —dedicated police officers and staff, and from partner agencies —whose endless commitment to our communities has continually inspired me to do more. I have been fortunate to serve vibrant and diverse communities here throughout my career. The unique support of local people and partners has been integral to keeping people safe.

"Policing has been one of the most rewarding careers I could imagine, and I’m incredibly proud of all we’ve accomplished together.”

T/Chief Constable at Leicestershire Police, David Sandall said: “Huge congratulations to our former Chief Constable Rob Nixon. His policing career and his outstanding national work as the NPCC’s lead for criminal justice has been built on public service, diligence, and the drive to make a positive difference.

“His commitment to the diverse communities of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and to also bringing change across the wider criminal justice system is something recognised by many partners and community leaders, and he should feel immensely proud of everything he has achieved and this national recognition.”