Ian Hopkins approved as new Greater Manchester chief constable

Ian Hopkins was named as the preferred candidate by Greater Manchester's Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and Crime Panel has formally approved the appointment of Ian Hopkins as the force's new chief constable.

The ex-deputy chief constable succeeds Sir Peter Fahy, who announced his retirement in July after seven years.

Mr Hopkins joined GMP in 2008 after roles with Staffordshire, Northamptonshire and Cheshire Police.

He was Greater Manchester's Police and Crime Commissioner and Interim Mayor Tony Lloyd's preferred candidate.

Mr Hopkins beat the chief constable of Cheshire Police, Simon Byrne, to the position.

Sir Peter Fahy joined the police in 1981

Sir Peter was appointed chief constable of GMP - one of the largest police forces in the UK - in 2008 and was paid an annual salary of £193,000.

His time in office included the 2012 murders of policewomen Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone by Dale Cregan, and the mass poisoning of patients at Stepping Hill hospital in Stockport by nurse Victorino Chua.

He is due to become chief executive of the children's charity Retrak.