Police Oracle's Deputy Editor, Clive Hammond, talks to some of policing's key figures to understand how their role has influenced their lives and gather updates on the latest goings-on in the sector.
In this episode of Talking Blues, Police Oracle's Deputy Editor, Clive Hammond, chatted with Michelle Skeer OBE, who was the interim Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services before Sir Andy Marsh took over this month. In September, Michelle discussed the inspectorate's report which looked at the contributions police forces make to safety advisory groups (SAGs) and other bodies responsible for public safety. The report found that while progress had been made in safety arrangements at sports grounds since the Nineties, the framework for other events is "insufficient". Here, she tells Police Oracle about the challenges facing forces and what needs to be done to update the policies. This episode of Talking Blues was presented by Clive Hammond and produced by Sam Spreadborough.
25 Sept 2026
Talking Blues – Episode 16: Robert Clark
To mark Police Oracle's launch of its new international section, which looks at forces across the British Overseas Territories and the Commonwealth, Talking Blues caught up with Robert Clark, Commissioner of the Royal Anguilla Police Force. He discussed what life was like on the island and the challenges he faced when leaving the Police Service of Northern Ireland for the Caribbean. This episode of Talking Blues was presented by Clive Hammond and produced by Sam Spreadborough.
25 Aug 2026
Talking Blues – Episode 15: Dr Ashley Frayling
In this episode, Police Oracle's Deputy Editor Clive Hammond chats to Dr Ashley Frayling, a senior lecturer in criminology at the University of Exeter. Alongside this role, Dr Frayling is also the Specials Chief Officer at Devon and Cornwall Police, and in October marks 20 years working as a Special. She discussed what first attracted her to becoming a Special, how the position helped academically, and how she manages to balance life as a lecturer and on the frontline. This episode of Talking Blues was presented by Clive Hammond and produced by Sam Spreadborough.
28 Jul 2026
Talking Blues – Episode 14: Steve Gibbs
On this episode of Talking Blues, Police Oracle's Deputy Editor Clive Hammond talks to Steve Gibbs, the East of England Team Manager for charity The For Baby's Sake. The organisation helps officers attending domestic abuse scenes when young children are involved. Here, Steve reflects on how important getting the right training is for officers and why their presence can be vital for parents in danger. This episode of Talking Blues was presented by Clive Hammond and produced by Sam Spreadborough.
13 Jul 2026
Talking Blues – Episode 13: Rachel Kearton
In this episode of Talking Blues, Police Oracle's Deputy Editor, Clive Hammond, caught up with Rachel Kearton, Suffolk Constabulary's chief constable. During their chat, CC Kearton reflected on her career and why she has decided to retire from policing. This episode of Talking Blues was presented by Clive Hammond and produced by Sam Spreadborough.
29 Jun 2026
Talking Blues - Episode 12: Alex Franklin-Smith
On this episode of Talking Blues, Police Oracle's Deputy Editor Clive Hammond catches up with Alex Franklin-Smith, the former chief constable of Warwickshire Police. Mr Franklin-Smith talks about why he decided to leave the force before reaching the retirement age, and how social media influenced the decision. This episode of Talking Blues was presented by Clive Hammond and produced by Sam Spreadborough.
12 Jun 2026
Talking Blues – Episode 11: Rachel Watson
In the latest episode of Talking Blues, Clive Hammond, Deputy Editor of Police Oracle, catches up with Rachel Watson, the Director General of the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The discussion centred around how the police complaint system operates, what officers can expect during an investigation and just how challenging the fast-tracked investigation into officers at Charing Cross police station, who were filmed during a BBC Panorama documentary in 2025, was. This episode of Talking Blues was presented by Clive Hammond and produced by Sam Spreadborough.
29 May 2026
Talking Blues - Episode 10: Russ Foster
Police Oracle's Deputy Editor Clive Hammond caught up with the Isle of Man's Chief Constable, Russ Foster, discussing his career and why island life makes policing there so unique. It comes as the force looks to share how roles in the region can be both professionally rewarding, with exposure across the full spectrum of operations, alongside a work-life balance that brings safety and a quality of life that is increasingly difficult to find in larger jurisdictions. Find out more about the opportunities by contacting PoliceJobs@gov.im.
This episode of Talking Blues was presented by Clive Hammond and produced by Sam Spreadborough.
13 May 2026
Talking Blues - Episode 9: Stephen Clayman
This month, Police Oracle's Deputy Editor Clive Hammond was joined by Commander Stephen Clayman, who is the National Police Chiefs’ Council national lead for knife crime. In April, the National Knife Crime Centre was launched to support the police in delivering the Government's ambition to halve knife crime over the next 10 years. Cdr Clayman led a significant review into how knives are sold online, identifying gaps in legislation that could prevent them from being sold illegally to under-18s. Here, Cdr Clayman discussed the findings of that review, as well as how the centre will help shape the policing of illegal knife selling for the next generation.
This episode of Talking Blues was presented by Clive Hammond and produced by Sam Spreadborough.
Find out more about the report here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-end-to-end-review-of-online-knife-sales/independent-end-to-end-review-of-online-knife-sales-accessible
1 May 2026
Talking Blues - Episode 8: Road Safety Trust
Last month, the Road Safety Trust (RST) marked its 10th anniversary, publishing an independent study outlining how the charity's funding has helped build the evidence base for safer roads across the UK. Police Oracle's Deputy Editor, Clive Hammond, caught up with Chief Constable Jo Shiner, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Roads Policing and RST board member, and the charity's Chief Executive, Ruth Purdie OBE. This episode of Talking Blues was presented by Clive Hammond and produced by Sam Spreadborough.
23 Apr 2026
Talking Blues - Episode 7: GMP Response Week
In the latest episode of Talking Blues, Police Oracle's Deputy Editor, Clive Hammond, catches up with officers from Greater Manchester Police's Response Team to understand what life is like in the unit. This episode of Talking Blues was presented by Clive Hammond and produced by Sam Spreadborough.
17 Apr 2026
Talking Blues - Episode 6: Sir Andy Marsh
After nearly 40 years, Sir Andy Marsh, the College of Policing's CEO, has been part of a revolutionary period in policing - and seen personal challenges too. Here, Sir Andy talks to Police Oracle's Deputy Editor, Clive Hammond, about the highs and lows of the sector, and speaks openly regarding how he dealt with a cancer diagnosis while working.
9 Apr 2026
Talking Blues - Episode 5: Stephen Russell
Police Oracle's Deputy Editor, Clive Hammond, catches up with Stephen Russell, Director of Data, Strategy and Technology at Warwickshire Police. With the new policing reform white paper set to revolutionise policing, Stephen discussed what it means for officers and how technology could change how the sector operates. This episode of Talking Blues was presented by Clive Hammond and produced by Sam Spreadborough.
27 Mar 2026
Talking Blues – Episode 4: Lucy D'Orsi
For more than 30 years, Lucy D'Orsi has worked tirelessly in policing, rising through the ranks to her current post as Chief Constable of British Transport Police, a title she's held since 2021. To mark the fifth anniversary of her appointment, CC D'Orsi sat down with Police Oracle's Deputy Editor, Clive Hammond, to discuss why she decided to get into policing and how the sector has changed since she first joined it in 1992. This episode of Talking Blues was presented by Clive Hammond and produced by Sam Spreadborough.
13 Mar 2026
Talking Blues - Episode 3: Lisa Winward
To mark International Women's Day, Police Oracle's Deputy Editor, Clive Hammond, caught up with Lisa Winward, the former chief constable of North Yorkshire Police. The pair discussed Lisa's three decades in policing and why supporting officers' mental health was vital to her leadership.
This episode of Talking Blues was presented by Clive Hammond and produced by Sam Spreadborough.
26 Feb 2026
Talking Blues - Episode 2: Becky Riggs
In this episode, Police Oracle's Deputy Editor, Clive Hammond, catches up with Becky Riggs, Staffordshire Police's Acting Chief Constable, the NPCC’s Lead for Child Protection and Abuse Investigation. They speak at this year's CSAE Disruption Conference, discussing how these types of investigations have changed in the three decades since ACC Riggs joined policing.
5 Feb 2026
Talking Blues - Episode 1: Simon Megicks
Simon Megicks Interview - Talking Blues
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