THE Chief Constable of Gloucestershire, Suzette Davenport, has announced her retirement from policing.

Ms Davenport, 54, was appointed by the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl in 2013 and, amongst her many achievements, she has guided the organisation through a major restructure during a time of financial constraint.

Chief Constable Davenport said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of our officers and staff for all their hard work, dedication and support over the last four years.

“I always said this would be my last role in policing and to have served as Gloucestershire’s Chief Constable has not only been the highlight of my career but the greatest possible honour.

“While we have faced some tough challenges, we have had some major successes in tackling the issues that really affect our communities.

“I’m proud to have helped deliver further reductions in crime and know that Gloucestershire remains a very safe place to live, work and visit.”

Ms Davenport has also been the national lead for roads policing in England and Wales and was awarded the Queen’s Policing Medal in 2016.

Previously she was vice president of the British Association for Women in Policing for eight years.