Ex-head of police murder squad leaves county force for new role

Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Brennan has moved to “a new position with another criminal justice agency” only nine months after taking over West Yorkshire Police’s professional standards department (PSD), which looks into complaints about the police.

The force confirmed his departure yesterday but declined to reveal the nature of his new job. Mr Brennan will be replaced by Detective Chief Superintendent Clive Wain, the current head of information management.

It is the latest shake-up in the senior ranks at West Yorkshire Police, which last year brought in Mr Brennan to head up its PSD and increased its staffing levels in a bid to tackle falling rates of public confidence.

Chief constable Mark Gilmore is currently suspended over alleged “criminal activity during his time in Northern Ireland” while Mr Brennan’s successor at the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, Dave Knopwood, was sacked after admitting a drink-driving offence.

Prior to taking over the homicide team, Manchester-born Mr Brennan led the investigations into the murder of Bradford PC Sharon Beshenivsky and the disappearance of Dewsbury schoolgirl Shannon Matthews.

Dee Collins, Temporary Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, said: “Chief Superintendent Andy Brennan has now left the force and taken up a new position with another criminal justice agency after serving many years within a number of key roles.

“I would like to thank him on behalf of West Yorkshire Police for the dedication, leadership and expertise he demonstrated throughout...His personal drive and professionalism has taken us forward and I wish him all the best for the future.”

Ned Liddemore of West Yorkshire Police Federation said: “It is a shame to see him go because he did have some good thoughts on PSD.”