Preferred chief constable candidate drops out

Kyle Gordon was selected as the preferred candidate for the West Mercia role in December

West Mercia Police has been forced to look for another chief constable after the man chosen for the role had a "change in circumstances".

The police and crime commissioner for the force, John Campion, chose Kyle Gordon as his preferred candidate in December and on Friday said this latest change "could not have been foreseen at the time".

Mr Gordon had served as a commander for the Metropolitan Police Service and also worked for the British Transport Police and Police Service for Northern Ireland.

Mr Campion did not give the reason for the change of circumstances but said "it has been agreed that Mr Gordon will not be taking up the role".

In the meantime Alex Murray will continue as temporary chief constable.

When he was picked in December, Mr Gordon had said he was "very much looking forward to taking up the role".

He was in line to succeed Pippa Mills who left the role as chief constable of the West Mercia force in 2023 in order to become assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan Police.