TVP chief constable to retire

Francis Habgood, who has been in the police service for 32 years, including 15 years with Thames Valley Police and four years as its’ chief constable, will step down at the end of March 2019. 

Mr Habgood said in a statement: “At the end March 2019 my term as chief constable concludes, and I have decided that it is the right time for both me and the force that I retire. 

“I will always love policing and it’s been an honour to serve the public, most recently as chief constable of Thames Valley Police. 

“Thames Valley Police is an excellent force and I am privileged to lead the dedicated officers, staff and volunteers who work for us. 

“In the coming months I remain fully committed to meeting the challenges we face and will continue to work tirelessly to make our communities safer.” 

He was appointed chief constable in April 2015, three years after receiving the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM). A former syndicate director of the Strategic Command Course, Mr Habgood became TVP’s assistant chief constable in January 2004, and was promoted to deputy chief constable in 2008. 

Before joining TVP, Mr Habgood had served in West Yorkshire Police, which he joined in 1987.  

Thames Valley police and crime commissioner Anthony Stansfeld said: “It is with considerable regret that I have received notice from the chief constable, Francis Habgood, that he will be leaving Thames Valley Police when his contract ends on March 31, 2019.  

“He has been an outstanding chief constable and throughout the last four years we have had an excellent relationship and I will be very sorry to lose him. 

“During this period Thames Valley Police has been rated by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Service (HMICFRS) as one of the highest ranked police forces in the country and this is greatly down to his leadership. 

“The chief constable will continue to lead Thames Valley Police over the next five months as we now enter a period of recruitment for his successor.”