Third South Yorkshire top cop in six days

Police and crime commissioner Dr Alan Billings has appointed Dave Jones, the chief constable of North Yorkshire Police, to lead the force until a permanent replacement for ex-top cop David Crompton is found.

Mr Jones took up the post at noon today, based at the force’s Sheffield HQ.

He will work alongside Deputy Chief Constable Dawn Copley, Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Barber and Acting Assistant Chief Constable Jason Harwin.

A force spokeswoman said the permanent role of South Yorkshire Police’s chief constable will be advertised in the coming weeks, with a view to filling the post over the summer.

Once the new top cop is found, Mr Jones will return to his position at North Yorkshire Police.

Mr Jones began his policing career in 1986, with Greater Manchester Police.

In 2008 he was appointed assistant chief constable for Police Service Northern Ireland.

He took up the role of chief constable at North Yorkshire Police in 2013, where he worked on “service improvement and modernisation”, a spokeswoman said.

Mr Jones is also the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on citizens in policing and sits on the national Special Capabilities Board.

During his interim appointment in South Yorkshire, Mr Jones’ post in North Yorkshire will by filled by the force’s deputy chief constable Tim Madgwick.

Dr Alan Billings, Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire, said he was “confident” Mr Jones could begin restoring trust in the force.

He added: “The last week has been very turbulent for South Yorkshire Police and I am well aware of the anguish felt by the communities of South Yorkshire and police officers and police staff at the present time.

“I will be working closely with the force to establish stability as soon as possible.

“I want to give reassurance to all and make it clear that I have been working very hard alongside members of my office and colleagues in the Home Office, the College of Policing and HMIC to resolve these issues as a matter of urgency.

“I am also very grateful to the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, Julia Mulligan, who has been extremely supportive and has offered the services of Chief Constable Jones to us during this very difficult period.”

Mr Jones said: “I joined the police service to make a difference and to keep people safe, and that will be my focus at South Yorkshire Police.

“There is no question that this is a very difficult period, both for South Yorkshire Police as an organisation, and for the communities it serves locally and further afield.

“Nevertheless, I believe there is a strong desire — both inside and outside the police service — for the force to move forward in a positive direction.

“With that in mind, I will work with the new chief officer team over the coming months, to make sure that South Yorkshire Police makes progress until a permanent chief constable is appointed.”

He added: “First and foremost, I will engage with those communities both inside and outside of South Yorkshire who have been let down by the police service.

“I want to understand how their confidence in policing has been affected, and work with them to build it back up and restore pride back into the police service.

“It is also important that officers and police staff are supported to get on with the day job, which is to serve the public of South Yorkshire and keep people safe.

“In addition, and with the support of the police and crime commissioner, I will be seeking the full support of the College of Policing, NPCC and HMIC to provide a thorough review of South Yorkshire Police.

“The full details of this and the terms of reference will be worked out in due course in partnership with South Yorkshire Police and the police and crime commissioner.

“This will form the basis of a route-map for the incoming chief constable.

“I will also work alongside the police and crime commissioner to seek to ensure that the service has sufficient funding and resources to tackle the issues facing the force.

“I am not underestimating the scale of the work ahead, but part of the reason why I have taken on this interim role is that I believe that the policing as a whole has a duty to help the service in South Yorkshire to move forward.

“It is vitally important and it is the bedrock of British policing that we have the trust and confidence of the public and if anything puts that at risk the whole of the police service needs to respond accordingly.”

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