Chief Constable of Lincolnshire announces retirement

Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones has confirmed today (Monday) that he has advertised internationally in the search for a replacement for retiring Chief Constable Neil Rhodes.

According to Mr Jones, Mr Rhodes recently notified the Police and Crime Commissioner of his intention to retire.

Mr Jones said that he would be open to receiving applications for the position of Chief Constable from the best candidates for Lincolnshire regardless of whether they come from near or far.

“Only the National Crime Agency has advertised internationally for a leader prior to this, but the regulations allow us to advertise in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand for a Chief Constable replacement so we will be promoting the vacancy in those areas as well as the United Kingdom,” he said.

“Neil Rhodes has led the Force since 2012 and has been an outstanding leader for Lincolnshire Police as well as a significant figure in regional and national policing. He has fought tirelessly for a sustainable financial deal for the Force and will, I know, be enthusiastic and committed right to the day he finishes.

“We are looking for a similarly committed individual – inspirational, innovative and decisive - who will share my passion and vision to make Lincolnshire safer and more prosperous,” Mr Jones said.

“I am looking for an effective, approachable leader who will be responsive to the diverse needs inside the organisation and across Lincolnshire,” said Mr Jones. “Lincolnshire Police perform exceptionally well in national terms with a crime rate amongst the lowest in the country but there is always more to do. It is an exciting challenge for the right person and with Lincolnshire being one of the most beautiful counties in the United Kingdom, I’m sure that we will be an attractive choice in many ways.”

The Chief Constable says he will not comment on his planned retirement until early February.

Mr Rhodes joined Lincolnshire Police in 1986 after spending ten years in retail management. During 15 years with Lincolnshire Police he progressed from Constable to Superintendent, working across the county as a patrol officer, a detective and in roads policing before joining Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.

He later spent four years with Humberside Police, serving in Scunthorpe and Hull.

Neil was promoted to Assistant Chief Constable with Cumbria Constabulary in late 2004, where he held both operational and organisational development portfolios before returning to Lincolnshire as Deputy Chief Constable in the autumn of 2008 and taking on the Chief Constable role in April 2012.

Over the past few years Mr Rhodes has led the reshaping of the force, stripping out geographic boundaries and developing a ‘whole force’ approach. The senior management structure of the force has been recast and the operational officers refocused on performance delivery and quality of service to the community.

In addition to the normal police examinations, he has a law degree (University of London) and a Masters degree in criminology (University of Cambridge).

Nationally, he holds the lead for courts, and is also a Board member for the Youth Justice Board of England and Wales.

In 2013 he was temporarily suspended by former Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Hardwick on suspicion of misconduct, but this was soon quashed by a judge. He was exonerated and returned to work later that year.