New Norfolk chief constable announced

The police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Norfolk has announced his preferred candidate for the vacant chief constable role at Norfolk Constabulary.

The appointment of Deputy Chief Constable Simon Bailey (pictured), who has led the force as temporary chief constable since the departure of Phil Gormley to the incoming National Crime Agency in June, is due to be ratified by Norfolk’s police and crime panel on October 25.

Mr Bailey has served his entire career with Norfolk Constabulary, spending most of his service as a detective in King’s Lynn and Norwich.

In 1998 he was seconded to the National Crime Squad as detective inspector, where he managed covert operations against organised crime gangs, and in 2000 he worked as part of the Rosemary Nelson murder investigation in Northern Ireland. He returned to Norfolk three years later as a detective superintendent before being promoted to chief superintendent in 2005, and in 2009 he attended the Strategic Command Course.

He said: “I am truly delighted to be chosen as the preferred candidate for the role of chief constable and look forward to the opportunity to speak in front of members of the police and crime panel next month.”

Mr Bett said Mr Bailey “has proved himself to be highly competent” across a range of senior officer positions within the force, adding he was “confident” he had found “the right person to take the Norfolk Constabulary forward in these challenging times”.

He said: “He is an excellent leader and I will look to him to ensure that Norfolk remains an exemplary force driving through efficiencies and economies whilst keeping us in good shape for the future and maintaining the county as one of the safest counties in England. I hope that the police and crime panel will endorse my choice.”