Police chief attacks Reform UK promise to scrap equality policies as ‘ludicrous’

Merseyside chief constable, who is retiring, also dismisses claims asylum seekers are to blame for a crime wave

The Reform party’s promise to abolish policies on equality and diversity is “ludicrous” and threatens to take policing and society backwards, one of the country’s most senior chief constables has said.

Serena Kennedy retires on Sunday as the chief constable of Merseyside police, after a tumultuous four years in charge.