'Biggest change' for police force in over 40 years

CHIEF CONSTABLE RETURNS TO OVERSEE TECH ROLL-OUT

-  AUSTEN SHAKESPEARE

NORTHUMBRIA Police’s chief constable Vanessa Jardine will return to the force following a short retirement.

The top cop said her new tenure would see the biggest technological innovations the force has seen in decades.

Chief Constable Jardine, who first joined the police back in 1994, will return to her post on October 22 as part of a national retire and rehire scheme.

The scheme is designed to retain skills, knowledge and experience within the police and remove financial disincentives officers face when they achieve 30 years’ service.

In a statement from the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria, it was said the scheme does not create extra costs to the taxpayer.

Her return was subject to the agreement of the Police and Crime Panel, which met on Tuesday.