Chief constable hires former boss to be his deputy
The chief constable of Cleveland Police, Richard Lewis, has hired his former chief constable from his previous force to serve as his deputy as part of a major overhaul of the senior leadership team.
Ian Arundale was the chief constable at Dyfed-Powys Police for four years between 2008 until his retirement in 2012. Since then, he has been working with various international law enforcement agencies and as an expert witness.
Mr Lewis began his policing career at Dyfed-Powys Police in 2000 and served at every rank before being appointed deputy chief constable shortly before his move to Cleveland in April 2019.
Mr Lewis said: “Ian is highly respected across policing and I’m pleased he is joining our leadership team.
“He shares my drive and determination to steer Cleveland Police in the right direction for the people of Teesside and he is absolutely the right appointment for the force during this time of change.
“By having someone of Ian’s calibre as my deputy it will allow me to focus my efforts entirely on the challenges that we face over the coming year and lead the force to where it should be.”
Mr Arundale joined South Wales Police in 1980 and served across all ranks at a number of forces over a 32-year career. He was assistant and later deputy chief constable of West Mercia Police before moving back to Wales.
Mr Arundale said: “I want to make a positive contribution to Cleveland Police and local communities and believe my experience and skills in police standards and performance fit with the chief constable’s overall plan for the force.
“I’m excited by this role as it allows me to use my expertise in policing alongside the additional knowledge I have gained over the last few years.”
The appointment is the latest in a series from outside the force. Steve Graham who previously worked at the West Yorkshire and Humberside forces joined as assistant chief constable in May while Lisa Orchard, formerly head of crime at Northumbria Police, joined as an assistant chief constable last month.
The leadership of the force has experienced troubled times in recent years. Mr Lewis was appointed after former Chief Constable Mike Veale resigned in January after it emerged that he was facing an investigation into alleged serious misconduct. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is still investigating claims he behaved inappropriately and acted in a discriminatory manner.
In October 2012, Sean Price became the first chief constable to be sacked in 35 years after he was found guilty of gross misconduct. Meanwhile, a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation is ongoing into Assistant Chief Constable Adrian Roberts who was suspended in April on suspicion of gross misconduct.
