Tewkesbury MP Welcomes Appointment of Interim Chief Constable

Following the announcement that an interim chief constable is to take the helm at Gloucestershire Constabulary, Tewkesbury MP Cameron Thomas has contacted the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner, to request an initial meeting.

It was announced this week that Maggie Blyth has been appointed to lead the force while Chief Constable Rod Hansen is suspended during an investigation. His former deputy Shaun West, who retired this summer, is also currently under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct and has yet to be replaced.

Liberal Democrat MP Cameron Thomas has written to Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson, requesting a meeting with CC Blyth to discuss the force’s challenges and her approaches to tackling them.

He said: “As a new MP, one of my priorities is to ensure Tewkesbury and Gloucestershire have the best possible public services. An effective and sustainable police force is vital for residents.

“I congratulate and offer my full support to Maggie Blyth, the constabulary and its dedicated officers and staff, during their current and enduring challenges. I recognise that morale has been affected, and as a retired Military Police Officer I will always stand with our officers and police staff in the lawful execution of their duties.

“It was important that the commissioner moved quickly to fill the leadership vacuum at the head of the force, to ensure strategic and operational policing have an established lead.”