New Chief Constable announced

Nottinghamshire Police Authority has today announced the appointment of Chris Eyre as the next Chief Constable.

Mr Eyre, the current Deputy Chief Constable, will take over when the present Chief, Julia Hodson, retires next year.

Mr Eyre joined Nottinghamshire Police as Deputy Chief Constable in June 2010 with a portfolio that included overseeing the changes necessary to improve performance and meet the financial challenge posed by cuts in Government grant.

When he arrived, along with two new assistant chief constables, the force was the worst performing in England and Wales; it is now the most improved.

Police officers tell the Advertiser Mr Eyre's popularity among the rank and file soared when he turned down a performance-related bonus payable by Nottinghamshire Police.

Then, and still, officers with 30 years pensionable experience are being forcibly retired and civilian staff are being made redundant to help save money.

He joined Nottinghamshire Police from Leicestershire Constabulary where he had been Temporary Chief Constable since September 2009.

The decision to appoint him is said to follow a robust recruitment process that began as soon as Ms Hodson announced her intention to retire.

Jon Collins, chairman of Nottinghamshire Police Authority, said: “Chris, who has been an exceptional Deputy Chief Constable, is fully aware of the challenges ahead and we feel sure he is the right person to drive the Force forwards to meet them.”

Mr Eyre, who is married with three children, said: “I’ve now been with Nottinghamshire Police for 18 months, during which time it has been my enormous privilege to have had the opportunity to help the force move forwards.

"I’m delighted that I can continue this work and am determined to ensure that quality of policing in Nottinghamshire is the best in the country.”

Julia Hodson said: “Since he joined the force as Deputy Chief Constable last year Chris has made an outstanding contribution to policing in Nottinghamshire, not only in driving down crime but in overseeing a major re-engineering of how service is delivered to the public.

"I know, when he takes up his appointment as Chief Constable, he will continue to build on the very firm foundations that we have laid over recent years to achieve our aim of being the best performing force in the country by 2015.”