playnext.fm

Inspiring Leadership with Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE

390. Turmoil: 30 Years of Policing, Politics & Prejudice with Neil Basu QPM

·1 hr 5 min·5 clips
A former counter-terrorism chief wrote a book for his children to explain why he wasn't there, after a report left him in tears.
Host Jonathan Bowman-Perks interviews Neil Basu QPM, former Assistant Commissioner and National Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, for a second time on the Inspiring Leadership Podcast. The conversation centers on Basu's book 'Turmoil,' which he wrote for three reasons: for his children to understand his absence during their upbringing, as a testament to his love for policing despite its flaws, and to show the human beings behind the badge. Basu reflects on his mixed-race heritage and being labeled 'the whitest one' early in his career, illustrating the pressures to assimilate. He discusses the profound impact of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, the Casey report, and cases like Wayne Couzens and David Carrick on police confidence. Basu describes policing as a vocation, not just a job, and shares personal stories about his father, a Hindu doctor who faced discrimination. He talks about the trauma of overseeing counter-terrorism during a peak period, including the Manchester Arena bombing, and the nightmares that followed. The episode covers his views on leadership, emphasizing the importance of allies, handwritten notes, and the 'family, friends, fitness, faith, and focus' framework for resilience. Basu previews his upcoming podcast 'The Crime Agents' with Andy Hughes, sponsored by Global. He shares anecdotes about meeting royalty, including Prince Charles and Prince Harry, praising their empathy. The conversation concludes with Basu's top leadership tip: the necessity of speaking truth to power, even when it causes anxiety.

As heard by us

A warm, candid leadership conversation about allies, conduct, and the weight of ordinary acts of attention.

Neil Basu's Turmoil gives this leadership conversation a clear spine: a career shaped by policing, politics, and prejudice, but also by people prepared to challenge someone with authority.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a leadership lesson rooted in 30 years of policing, the 28 allies who pushed Neil Basu, and the quiet power of a handwritten note.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
Listen to the show on
Apple PodcastsSpotify
Play clips from this episodeMore from Inspiring Leadership with Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE