Home Secretary Priti Patel visits Joint Headquarters with Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry and Chief Constable Craig Guildford
Great work reducing crime and expanding neighbourhood policing has seen Nottinghamshire Police’s Chief Constable named as a preferred candidate for one of the top policing jobs in the country.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford has been at the helm for five years, a period in which officer numbers have risen to their highest in over a decade and there has been a sustained reduction in key crimes including burglary, robbery and knife crime.
Under his leadership, Operation Reacher teams have been introduced to all 12 neighbourhood policing areas across the force – taking the fight to criminals by working closely with communities.
His achievements in Nottinghamshire have led to him today being announced as the preferred candidate to be the next Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster.
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry, who has worked closely with Chief Constable Guildford, said she could understand his ambition to lead the second largest force in England and Wales.
“Craig has done a fantastic job in Nottinghamshire and has really had a big impact,” she said.
“It’s no surprise that my Midlands counterpart, PCC Simon Foster, is keen to secure his services and I sincerely wish Craig all the very best in the next step in his career.
“Home Secretary Priti Patel was really interested in the work that has been going on here, when she spoke to Craig and I during her visit to the new state-of-the-art Joint Headquarters.
“During Craig’s time as Chief Constable at Nottinghamshire Police, he has overseen the introduction of Operation Reacher, which has really connected local policing with local people to work as one team to fight crime.
“He’s also put in place dedicated teams to tackle some of the key crime that impact communities most – burglary, robbery and knife crime – with each of the teams having great success helping reduce these crimes.
“He has also driven the force to reach its national Uplift target for officer recruitment a year early, meaning the force now has its highest number of officers in over a decade.
“I will be sad to see him go, but our search for the next talent to take up the mantle and continue the work to Make Notts Safe will now begin.”
Chief Constable Guildford said it was an ‘honour’ to be put forward for the role, which is set to be confirmed at West Midlands Police and Crime Panel 25 July.
He said: “Chief Constable of West Midlands Police is one of the top policing jobs in the country. It is an honour to be put forward for the role. Sir David Thompson has been an excellent Chief Constable and I wish him well.”
“After five years as Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire, I shall be sad to leave a force which has some outstanding Police officers and staff, but I am very much looking forward to this new challenge.”
Posted on Friday 24th June 2022