Search gets under way again for new chief constable

A recruitment campaign to find a new chief constable for Humberside has started again, five months after the force failed to receive a single application for the role.

The position has been held on a temporary basis by Judi Heaton since July last year following the short-notice retirement of Paul Anderson.

Applications for the vacancy, which has a salary of £171,519 a year, will close on 2 February.

Jonathan Evison, the Humberside police and crime commissioner (PCC), postponed the recruitment process in October following criticism of the force's senior leadership by a police watchdog.

The advert for the job, posted on the PCC's website, said the ideal candidate would "drive excellence in performance and ensure the force realises its maximum potential".

The contract for the position will be for up to five years.

Mr Anderson announced his retirement from the force in June after less than a year in the role.

The following day, the Independent Office for Police Conduct confirmed it was investigating Mr Anderson. It was later confirmed he faced allegations of gross misconduct.

In October, Humberside Police was awarded some of the highest performance ratings in the country in a report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary.

However, inspectors also raised "serious concerns" about "instability in the senior leadership" at the force.

In response, the PCC said further changes in the leadership team did not give him "cause for concern" and said he had "absolute faith and confidence" in it.

Officers in the force have previously told the BBC that morale is at an "all-time low" and staff have "no confidence" in the leadership.

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