But now retired chief constable David Westwood is offering a very different kind of accommodation.
With the help of wife Wendy, the former boss of Humberside Police has converted his five-bedroomed Victorian mansion on the outskirts of Hull into the city's first Fairtrade B&B.
The Westwoods are keen to share their home with ethical tourists, people attracted by the delights of East Yorkshire who are also keen to tuck into organic produce grown in the couple's back garden, or sip coffee sourced from developing nations around the world.
Mr Westwood said: "It's something we began talking about nine months ago. Wendy is a director of the One World shop in Hull and we thought it was a very good opportunity to expand Fairtrade in Hull because the city was given Fairtrade status last year.
"We have two rooms available at the moment and may expand that if the demand is there."
Even the bed linen in the guest bedrooms has been sourced according to Fairtrade guidelines.
The accommodation is awaiting inspection from the Quality in Tourism Assurance Scheme. Mr Westwood said: "We asked about and don't think there's anything else like it in the area."
It is a far cry from his six years in charge of the Humberside force. Mr Westwood retired in March last year after a difficult end to his police career.
The force was at the centre of a political storm after it emerged it had failed to identify Soham murderer Ian Huntley as a risk despite a string of previous allegations against him.
Now, Mr Westwood, 58, is content to tend his leeks and beans – when not taking care of his other commitments. He is president of Hull Rotary Club, sits on the Wilberforce 2007 steering group and is a governor of two schools He said: "I'm incredibly busy but I'm enjoying myself immensely."
Mr Westwood's 120-year-old home – renamed The Hornbeams for his new venture – is only a few doors away from that of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.