Gaon Hart has been appointed as Chair of the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales for a 3-year term.
Gaon Hart is a distinguished legal expert and compliance strategist, currently serving as Chair of the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, where he oversees the prevention, protection and investigation of the £1.3 billion annual fraud risk facing the UK health sector.
He is also Managing Director of Legal Advisory Worldwide, a boutique consultancy specialising in global economic crime prevention in the private and public sectors and also works closely with police on misconduct hearings.
Born and raised in London to South African parents, who fled apartheid arrest and persecution, Gaon's early life was shaped by values of justice, equity, and resilience. His parents' courageous activism profoundly influenced his lifelong commitment to ethical leadership, diversity, and anti-discrimination.
Gaon said:
I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Home Secretary for placing her confidence in me. This is a timely and important moment to serve as the interface between the government's bold agenda to restore confidence in policing and make our streets safer, and the Police Service entrusted with delivering on those priorities.
Having worked alongside police officers for many years - including in my former role as the UK Lead Prosecutor for Public Corruption - I have a deep appreciation for the critical and often under-recognised role they play in protecting the public.
The Police Advisory Board for England and Wales (PABEW) offers a valuable forum for collaborative thinking, enabling the development of innovative ideas and the presentation of practical options to support the Home Office's objectives. I am passionate about the opportunities this role presents and committed to contributing meaningfully to its success.
The role of the PABEW is to advise the Home Secretary about matters such as recruitment, diversity and collaboration between forces in England and Wales.
The PABEW was established as a non-departmental public body under section 46 of the Police Act 1964, now section 63 of the Police Act 1996. The Chair of the Board oversees several statutory functions including:
- advising the Home Secretary on general questions affecting the police in England and Wales
- considering draft regulations on matters other than hours of duty, leave, pay and allowance such as the issue, use and return of police clothing, personal equipment and accoutrements
- considering draft regulations related to pensions under section 1 of the Police Pensions Act 1976
- establishing the Scheme Advisory Board (SAB) for the Police Pension Schemes, in accordance with s7 of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013
It may also consider any matter relating to conditions of service and any other matter affecting the police which has been referred to it by the Secretary of State.
The Home Secretary has appointed Gaon as Chair of the PABEW following an open recruitment competition in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. He has been appointed for a 3-year term, and will take up his role over the summer.
