Retired police chief returns to force

Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine returns as part of the national "retire and rehire" scheme

Northumbria Police's chief constable will return to the force next week following a short retirement.

Vanessa Jardine, who first joined the police in 1994, said her new tenure would see the biggest technological innovations the force has known in decades.

Her return is as part of a national "retire and rehire" scheme designed to retain experienced officers who might otherwise leave the service in order to to access their pension.

"I have more than 31 years of service and want to continue providing that leadership continuity to deliver outstanding services to the people of this area," she said.

Chief Constable Jardine, who will be reappointed to her role on 22 October, hoped to usher in the replacement of the force's 40-year-old computer system by February 2026.

"That will be the biggest change Northumbria Police has seen for over four decades because it will fundamentally change the way we operate," she said.

"It opens the door to so much more - the system we have at the moment is so old."

'Nothing unusual'

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth recommended Jardine's re-appointment, calling it "in the best interests of not only Northumbria Police but of our communities too".

"Under her leadership we have seen significant response time improvements and reductions in total crime figures – these are things residents will be keen for her to build on," she said.

Dungworth said there is "nothing unusual" about the retire and rehire policies of many UK police forces.

"It's been widely used by chief constables up and down the country and allows us to retain the services of a proven leader of high calibre and experience."

The National Police Chiefs' Council described the scheme as "facilitating arrangements for officers to leave service and access pension benefits, then return in the same rank and rate of pay".

The scheme "does not create extra costs to the taxpayer", it said.

Jardine's return was subject to the agreement of the Police and Crime Panel, which met on Tuesday afternoon.