The search is on for a successor

POLICE BOSS ON FINDING A NEW CHIEF & LISTENING TO YOU...

HELLO and welcome to my new column.

Part of my role as Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria Police is to engage with all ommunities to ensure your police force delivers the priorities set by you.

I’m therefore delighted to now be able to extend my communication with Chronicle readers through this monthly piece.

I will focus on the issues of the day and keep you updated about the key things happening at Northumbria Police.

As you may be aware, very soon I will have a very important decision to make on your behalf.

Part of my duties as Police and Crime Commissioner is to appoint a Chief Constable when a vacancy arises.

Following Steve Ashman’s announcement that he will be retiring in November, the process to appoint his successor has begun.

Steve has been an outstanding leader and has made a real difference.

His legacy will continue long into his retirement.

I want to appoint a Chief Constable who has the drive, passion and determination to engage and deliver for all our communities.

Being Chief Constable is not an easy job, but it is very rewarding and the changes the post holder can bring about can be amazing.

There is no front runner for the role, it is very much an open field.

I’m encouraging senior officers from across the country who think they have the attributes we are looking for to apply.

We hope to appoint the new Chief Constable in early November and will they will take up the post early in the New Year.

In the meantime, current Deputy Chief Constable, Winton Keenen, will be Acting Chief Constable.

Chronicle readers will have read a great deal in the Press regarding the Government lifting the pay gap for police officers.

Of course I welcome this decision, it’s right that we reward our hard working police officers and staff.

However, the sting in the tail is that the Government is making no extra funding available to pay for this announcement.

This comes against a backdrop of Northumbria Police losing £123m from Government funding which has resulted in the loss of over 900 police officers since 2010.

To protect neighbourhood policing, I’ve had to use our reserves.

The Home Secretary has a duty to honour her pledge to our police officers - by paying for her announcement.

I have demanded that the Prime Minister covers the £1.55m budget increase that this announcement will create.

Northumbria Police officers and staff have my assurances that I continue to be on their side and will defend their corner every step of the way.

It’s always great to hear from local residents, let me know your thoughts by emailing me at enquiries@ northumbria-pcc.gov.uk or on Twitter @northumbriapcc

You can also visit my website at www.northumbria-pcc.gov.uk to see how the force is delivering your priorities set in the Police and Crime Plan.