Interim Warks Chief Constable to prioritise trust and harm prevention
Alex Franklin-Smith is taking temporary charge following the retirement of Debbie Tedds
Last updated 14th Oct 2024
Warwickshire Police's temporary Chief Constable says he will ensure the force continues to "deliver its commitments to the people of Warwickshire."
Alex Franklin-Smith is taking charge of the force whilst a process to recruit a new permanent Chief Constable is in place.
It follows the retirement of Debbie Tedds after 35 years of service.
In an open letter, Mr Franklin-Smith wrote he has a "clear" vision of "protecting people from harm", caring for victims of crime, and ensuring trust and confidence in policing.
He stated "the work of my officers and staff becomes harder" when trust and confidence in the force is damaged.
"We know we don’t always get it right, but we will work hard to learn from mistakes when they are made and we will be relentless in our pursuit to continually improve what we do and how we do it."
Mr Franklin-Smith added he will be "out and about across the county" in the coming days and weeks, and listening to officers and the public about how the force can improve its service.
"I am confident that our plans for the future remain strong, as do our aims to deliver the very best possible policing services for the public."