West Midlands Police confirm Craig Guildford as new chief constable

West Midlands Police have confirmed Craig Guildford as the force’s new police chief.

After five years as Chief Constable for Nottinghamshire Police, Mr Guildford will become the next Chief Constable of West Midlands Police following a confirmation hearing of the Police and Crime Panel on 25 July 2022.

Ahead of the hearing, candidates were grilled by a panel of young people from the region, stakeholders from partner agencies, staff and officer representatives and finally a formal interview with a panel chaired by the PCC.

What’s been said about the appoitnment?

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster, said: “I am delighted to confirm that Craig Guildford will be the next Chief Constable of West Midlands Police following a confirmation hearing of the Police and Crime Panel.

“Craig Guildford will be responsible for working with me to deliver my Police and Crime Plan and my core pledge of rebuilding community policing. I also expect the incoming Chief Constable to reduce crime and drive recruitment to make West Midlands Police look more like the communities it serves.

“Appointing a Chief Constable is one of the most important decisions I will make whilst in office. Craig Guildford will be responsible for preventing and tackling crime so as to ensure the West Midlands is a safe and secure place for people to live and work. He is an outstanding police leader and I look forward to working closely with him.

“Sir David Thompson has been an excellent Chief Constable and will continue to lead the force into the Commonwealth Games and through to the end of the year. Sir David has modernised the force and had to grapple with the huge challenges of austerity and ever-changing threats to public safety.

Craig Guildford said: “I am delighted to be confirmed as the next Chief Constable of West Midlands Police.

“I am looking forward to working closely with the Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster, to help deliver his plan to rebuild neighbourhood policing. I also can’t wait to get to know the communities of the West Midlands and to help make their streets safer.

“Chief Constable of West Midlands Police is one of the top policing jobs in the country, it is an honour to be put forward for the role. Sir David Thompson has been an excellent Chief Constable and I wish him well.

“After over five years as Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire, I shall be sad to leave a force which has some outstanding Police officers and staff, but I am very much looking forward to this new challenge.”

Sir David Thompson will lead the force through the Commonwealth Games and up until the end of the year, having started the role in 2016. An exact handover date will be announced after the Commonwealth Games.

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