In a surprising turn of events, Chief Constable Paul Anderson of Humberside Police has announced his retirement after 34 years in policing, just one year into his tenure as chief. This decision follows closely on the heels of his referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) by the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Jonathan Evison, over allegations of potential misconduct.
The IOPC described the allegations as “largely related to communication and behaviour towards colleagues”. The IOPC added, “We will now conduct a thorough investigation, independently of the police, into the matters brought to our attention.” As of now, the IOPC has not published any details about the case on its website.
Jonathan Evison, who was recently re-elected as the Police and Crime Commissioner, stated that his office received details of the potential misconduct on 12 June. Following thorough enquiries and due consideration, he felt obligated to refer the matter to the IOPC on 24 June.
On 25 June, Humberside Police announced that Chief Constable Anderson had decided to retire. Anderson remarked, “It has been a difficult decision to make to retire from the force, but it is the right time for me personally to make this announcement. It has and will always be my absolute honour to have served the public.”
Later that day, the IOPC confirmed the commencement of an independent investigation. Despite Anderson’s retirement, the investigation will continue, as stated by the PCC.
The PCC also mentioned that discussions are underway to secure interim leadership for the Humberside Police while the recruitment process for a new Chief Constable begins.
