Humberside chief constable quits ahead of watchdog report

Justine Curran, 48, who joined the force nearly four years ago, is taking early retirement ahead of two reports by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.

The first into the force's effectiveness is due in the first week of March; the second is into child protection issues.

Police and crime commissioner Keith Hunter told the Yorkshire Post, he had not seen the reports, but had spoken to inspectors. He said Ms Curran was "leaving straightaway."

He said: "I formed the view that what I was hearing and cross-referencing that with a staff survey I just concluded that the staff needed a fresh start with some new leadership.

"I discussed that with the chief constable and she came to the same conclusions in the end and took the decision that she would take early retirement."

He added: "She is on leave this week. She will not be performing duties as a chief from this point on."

South Yorkshire Police and Humberside Police were judged last November as requiring improvement in the latest efficiency inspection by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.

Humberside was the only force to be rated inadequate in a review of police efficiency across England and Wales in 2015.

Last month Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, called for Humberside Police to take urgent action following the latest national figures which show a 13 per cent rise in crime in Hull and the East Riding in the twelve months to September 2016.

Ms Curran took over from former chief Tim Hollis in April 2013.

In a statement she said she was "proud of the significant impact we have achieved working every day to make Humberside safer and stronger. Humberside remains a very safe place to live, work and visit."