Retired officer takes charge of force amid misconduct probe into former chief
Judi Heaton QPM
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
A retired police officer has been appointed as temporary chief constable of Humberside Police amid an ongoing misconduct investigation into former chief constable Paul Anderson.
Judi Heaton QPM will take the role for up to six months to allow for the recruitment of a new chief constable, Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Jonathan Evison said today.
Mr Anderson announced his retirement on Tuesday, June 25, less than a year after taking command. The next day the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed it was investigating allegations of misconduct against him.
On June 26, Mr Evison said the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner received “details of potential misconduct” relating to Mr Anderson on June 12, and referred the matter to the IOPC on June 24.
Mr Evison said Ms Heaton had been selected for her “vast experience” and local knowledge.
Announcing her appointment in a statement today, Mr Evison said: “I am delighted to welcome Judi Heaton back to Humberside Police in the role of Temporary Chief Constable.
“Her ambition for the area, passion for policing and public service provides me with much confidence that the force has the right leadership during a period which could be unsettling. We want to ensure our communities continue to benefit from a high performing police force.”
Ms Heaton said: “I am honoured to have been invited by the PCC to fulfil this important interim role. I hope to bring some stability to Humberside Police and enable staff and officers to continue to provide the best policing services to the public.”
Ms Heaton first joined the force as a constable in 1991 and transferred to Cheshire Constabulary in 2001, where she was an inspector and then chief inspector.
She transferred back to Humberside Police in 2006, becoming the divisional commander for the East Riding, then head of crime and then head of professional standards (conduct).
She retired as an assistant chief constable of Police Scotland in December 2021 and was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal the following year.