Suffolk: Chief Constable Announces Retirement

23 November 2012, 10:40

Suffolk's Chief Constable has announced that he will retire next year.

Simon Ash is eligible for retirement, having completed more than 30 years of service as a police officer in Kent, Hertfordshire and Suffolk.

Mr Ash joined Suffolk Constabulary as Chief Constable in 2007 on a five year fixed-term contract until June 2012, which was further extended for a year.

Following his decision to retire, Mr Ash said: "My contract with Suffolk was due to come to an end earlier in the year but I decided to remain in post to oversee the transition to the Police and Crime Commissioner.

"With the election behind us, it now seems an appropriate time to hand over to a new Chief Constable, who can take the Constabulary forward with the new Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore."

"I will be working with Tim to support him through his first three months.

"I have worked closely with Tim over the past five years in his role as leader of Mid Suffolk District Council and I wish him every success for the future.

"The PCC heralds a major change to the way in which policing is governed and I know he will have the full support of my colleagues in his work over the coming years."

Mr Ash will be taking up a position as an independent member of the Parole Board when he leaves the Constabulary in February.

Tim Passmore, Suffolk's new Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "I would like to thank Simon for the support he has given me to date.

"It is not by accident that Suffolk is one of the safest counties; Simon has led Suffolk Constabulary through some testing financial times and I applaud him for his commitment to the Constabulary.

"I now look forward to recruiting a new Chief Constable to work with me to continue to shape our policing service to meet the challenge of keeping all Suffolk's communities safe."