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New Chief Constable takes up post

17 June 2010 [Contributor: Mich Bingham]

Chief Constable Simon Cole
(Photo: Leics. Constabulary)

The new Chief Constable of Leicestershire Constabulary has taken up his post.

Simon Cole, former Deputy Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary, will spend his first few weeks getting to know the Force. This will include going out and about to meet staff, members of the community and those from agencies that the police work closely with.

Chief Constable Cole said:

“I’m genuinely thrilled to become Chief Constable of Leicestershire Constabulary.

"I did much of my growing up in the county and that means that this is a sort of homecoming for me. I’m really looking forward to getting back to my roots and reacquainting myself with the area.

“I think that it’s really important that I get to know the real Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and I can’t do this by sitting behind my desk. I shall be joining my officers to see what it is really like on the streets as well as meeting as many people as I can including members of the public.

“There are certainly many challenges ahead the biggest one being the savings I know we must make due to the funding gap. We can’t live beyond our means and we must work to ensure that we can balance the books.

"However I am committed to ensuring that Leicestershire Constabulary continues to deliver an excellent service to the people it serves and represents good value for money.

“To really make a difference in communities we do need the support of the community. The Force has been fortunate over the years to receive excellent backing from the public and I hope that this will continue.”

Simon began his policing career in the West Midlands where he worked in the City of Birmingham in various roles, including Staff Officer to the Chief Constable and Operations Superintendent in Handsworth before becoming Commander of Dudley South Operational Command Unit.

Simon joined Hampshire Constabulary in 2003, as Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) and became Deputy Chief Constable in 2008. As ACC, Simon led Hampshire in delivering Safer Neighbourhoods, with teams of local Safer Neighbourhoods officers and Targeted Patrol Teams being at the heart of delivering local based crime-fighting in communities.

In 2007 Simon was invited to be on the directing staff of the Strategic Command Course, lending his experience to this international course which trains senior officers and staff who will work at Chief Officer level in the future.

As Deputy Chief Constable, Simon was responsible for corporate planning, consultation, information and research, as well as diversity and performance.

He led work to merge IT departments with a neighbouring Force, and led on both professional standards and collaboration.

Nationally, Simon was the lead on police and national security vetting for the Association of Chief Police Officers.

When not at work, Simon is a committed family man with a young son and daughter. He is a keen sportsman, playing tennis regularly. coaching junior rugby and enjoying watching the Tigers when work allows.

He chairs the Police Sport UK National Lawn Tennis section.

Simon has a BA Hons in English Literature from the University of Durham, an MA in History from University College, Worcester, and a diploma in Criminology and Policing from Cambridge University. He completed the Strategic Command Course at the Police Staff College, Bramshill, in 2001.

Associated links

» Leicesershire Constabulary

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