Derbyshire Police Chief Constable Rachel Swann announces retirement
She'll step down in May after six years in charge of the force
Last updated 10th Feb 2026
Derbyshire's Chief Constable Rachel Swann has announced she will retire in May - after serving in the top job since August 2020.
Swann has been a prominent figure in East Midlands policing, beginning her career in Leicestershire Police and progressing through various ranks in Northamptonshire before joining Derbyshire Police in 2019.
Speaking about her decision to retire, Swann said: “Policing has been such a huge part of my life for over 30 years, and serving the communities of Derbyshire has been the greatest privilege of my career."
“I have had the fortune of working across the East Midlands, starting out and rising through the ranks at Leicestershire Police, then serving as Assistant Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable in Northamptonshire, before moving to Derbyshire in 2019, where I led the multi-agency response to the Toddbrook Reservoir collapse at Whaley Bridge, one of the largest emergency evacuations in peacetime across the United Kingdom.
“In 2020, I became the first female to hold the position of Chief Constable at Derbyshire, an extremely proud moment."
She added: “The officers, staff and volunteers serving the communities of Derbyshire do their best to improve the lives of those we serve, running towards danger and responding in extremely challenging circumstances.
“Whatever they face, Derbyshire’s strength has always come from its people. The bravery, the dedication, the commitment to help others – policing really is a job like no other."
A replacement will be named in due course.