Northumbria’s Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine is set to retire after receiving approval from the Police and Crime Commissioner but, subject to the agreement of the Police and Crime Panel, will rejoin following a short break.
The move would take place under the national Retire and Rejoin Scheme, widely used by police officers up and down the country. It does not create any additional costs to the taxpayer.
It is a scheme designed to retain skills and experience at all levels of policing. It allows for any police officer, including a Chief Constable, to formally resign as an officer before being re-appointed into the same rank. This process requires a break in service of at least one calendar month.
The scheme is in accordance with updated guidance from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) and the College of Policing.
The Police and Crime Commissioner will present a report to the Police and Crime Panel at its meeting on the 14th October, when she will recommend the re-appointment of Northumbria’s Chief Constable.
Subject to the Panel’s approval of these arrangements, as it is a legislative requirement for every force to a Chief Constable in post, Deputy Chief Constable Jayne Meir becoming Temporary Chief Constable and Assistant Chief Constable Alastair Simpson becoming Temporary Deputy Chief Constable.
To comply with the requirement of legislation for every police force area in England and Wales to have a Chief Constable in post at any given time the Deputy Chief Constable will be the Acting Chief Constable for this short period.
With the panel’s approval, Vanessa Jardine will return to her role as Chief Constable from October 22nd.
